VinFast to open first Indian EV Manufacturing Facility in Tamil Nadu

VinFast, a Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer, plans to open its first Indian manufacturing facility in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, according to three people familiar with the matter. According to one of the sources, the company will manufacture EV batteries at its Thoothukudi plant, in addition to its previously announced plans to assemble vehicles shipped in parts from Vietnam.

VinFast, which competes with Tesla and China's BYD, did not respond to requests for comment. According to two sources, the company will make an announcement about the new plant in the coming days.

VinFast said in a statement on Jan 3 that it would reveal details of its plans at "an appropriate time". A spokesperson for the Tamil Nadu government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"Several VinFast officials have visited Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu to check out sites," a fourth source, a senior official directly involved in the matter, said on Tuesday.

According to Reuters, VinFast began hiring for sales, legal, and back office jobs in India in September, looking for candidates who "dare to think, dare to do, and dare to face difficulties."

It is unclear how much money will be invested or when a VinFast factory will be operational in Tamil Nadu. VinFast in October said it would build assembly factories in India and Indonesia, with each of them having a capacity of up to 50,000 cars per year and capital expenditure of up to $200 million initially. It also stated that production will begin in 2026.