Vietnamese auto major VinFast inaugurates electric vehicle assembly unit in Thoothukudi

Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer VinFast has officially inaugurated its EV assembly plant in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, marking its third operational facility and the first outside Vietnam. The plant represents a phased investment of Rs. 16,000 crore (US$ 1.83 billion), with Rs. 4,300 crore (US$ 490 million) allocated for the first phase. Inaugurated by Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin, the facility was completed within 17 months of its groundbreaking. The company aims to position Thoothukudi as an export hub and the “EV capital of South Asia,” with an initial capacity of 50,000 vehicles annually, scalable to 1.5 lakh units. The first phase will focus on assembling two premium electric SUV models, VF 6 and VF 7.

VinFast plans to generate 3,000–3,500 direct jobs, with additional employment across the supply chain. The 400-acre plant features modern, automated production lines, housing body, paint, and assembly shops, as well as logistics and quality control units. It includes an auxiliary cluster for local contractors to enhance supply chain localisation and technology transfer. The plant aligns with VinFast’s goal of achieving sales of two lakh vehicles by 2025 and reaching an annual production of one million vehicles by 2030. VinFast is also investing in a comprehensive EV ecosystem, from distribution and after-sales to battery recycling, in collaboration with partners such as myTVS, RoadGrid, Global Assure, and BatX Energies. The Tamil Nadu facility is central to VinFast’s regional strategy to serve South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, contributing to India's green industrial growth.

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