'Czech automaker Skoda to produce EVs in Vietnam' -

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Skoda told Nikkei Asia it will start selling Enyaq electric SUVs in Vietnam in 2026, but the production timeline is subject to change. Only a handful of foreign companies, like BYD and Chery of China, plan to manufacture EVs in the Southeast Asian country.

In Janury this year, Viet Nam News had reported that Czech automobile manufacturer Skoda is set to complete a US$500 million factory in Quảng Ninh Province this quarter.

The facility will initially produce internal combustion engine vehicles before transitioning to electric vehicles, with plans to export to Southeast Asian markets.

Skoda has partnered with Thành Công, a distributor for Hyundai, one of the most popular car brands in Việt Nam.

As the first automotive factory in the province, it spans 36 hectares with an annual production capacity of 120,000 vehicles.

Skoda, which began exporting cars to Việt Nam in 2023, sees significant potential in the market.

“We recognise that Skoda has growth opportunities in Việt Nam and Asia,” Marketing Director of Skoda Việt Nam Vũ Mạnh Cường said.

The factory, Skoda’s first in Southeast Asia, will fully assemble vehicles in its first phase, with components imported for local assembly. Việt Nam has offered incentives, including land rental support and worker housing construction, contingent on Skoda’s focus on high-tech and scientific innovation.

Việt Nam’s automotive sales reached 340,142 units in 2024, a 12.6 per cent increase from the previous year, according to the Việt Nam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (VAMA).

VinFast is not included in VAMA’s data. It sold 87,000 electric vehicles last year, 2.5 times more than the previous year. — VNS/ERMD

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