Engineers are working inside the assembly workshop at the VinFast factory in the northern city of Hải Phòng. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — VinFast Trading and Production LLC, a subsidiary of Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup, plans to open an automobile plant in the US after establishing a 50-member R&D office in San Francisco in preparation for California automobile sales in 2022, says the company.

“VinFast’s vision is to become a global smart electric car company and the US market is one of the first international markets that we will focus on,” VinFast Chief Executive Officer Thái Thị Thanh Hải said.

“We initially will develop high-end models for the US,” she added.

Hải expressed her strong belief that VinFast can win over the US and other overseas customers weary of buying an automobile from a Vietnamese firm they know little or nothing about by offering top-quality vehicles with high safety standards and advanced technology.

VinFast also plans to open 35 California showrooms and service centres this year, she said.

Most recently, California regulators have granted VinFast a license to test autonomous vehicles on public roads. The company aims to deliver its first electric vehicles to US customers next year.

Hải did not reveal how much Vinfast will invest in the US market, however, she said the firm target to be profitable after five years of operation despite challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In September last year, California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered to phase out sales of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035, which is billed as an impetus for Vinfast to sell electric vehicles in the market, she said.

Earlier, Vingroup Chairman Phạm Nhất Vượng told Bloomberg that he will pour US$2 billion into Vinfast to export cars to the US. — VNS