VinFast to start production at Tamil Nadu facility, deliveries in August

VinFast is set to begin production at its $2 billion Tamil Nadu plant this month and plans to start vehicle deliveries from the festive season, with a focus on exports and an expanding service network

Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) major and Tesla's global rival VinFast is all set to start production at its $2 billion facility in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu by the end of this month. The firm is planning to start delivery of vehicles from the festive season starting August, said a source aware of the development.

 

Amid anticipation about Tesla's India showroom launch on Tuesday, VinFast Auto India is taking a calculated moves including, creating an entire ecosystem with the 150,000-unit-per-annum manufacturing facility, extended dealership network across 27 cities, strategic agreements in the battery value chain, and extensive aftermarket and service tieups with myTVS and RoadGrid. The company is also targeting an export hub at Thoothukudi due to its proximity to the port. Pre-bookings for its models VF 6 and VF 7 will start on July 15. The facility will produce around 50,000 units during the first year.

 

“The plant inauguration and production will start by July end. We are likely to start delivery of cars from the coming festive season, likely by August,” said a top company executive, on condition of anonymity. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin is expected to inaugurate the plant. The facility, which is expected to generate employment for up to 3,500 professionals over the next five years, announced the induction of its first cohort of 200 locally hired professionals last week. 

 

VinFast’s workforce strategy follows a hybrid model of 80:20. 80 per cent of the plant workforce comprises freshers or trainees from local communities, while the remaining 20 per cent includes experienced Indian and expatriate professionals from leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The hiring is in line with the Naan Mudhalvan scheme, the state’s flagship skilling programme, which is designed to support agile recruitment and focused skill development tailored to industry needs.

 

“At VinFast, our vision for India is to build an entire EV ecosystem grounded in quality, accessibility, and long-term customer support. Our goal is to make owning an electric vehicle as effortless and reassuring as possible,” said Pham Sanh Chau, chief executive officer of VinFast Asia. Alongside, VinFast ramps up its ecosystem expansion in India, supported by several key strategic partnerships. The firm has tied up with Global Assure for 24/7 roadside assistance, dedicated call centre support, and mobile service; myTVS and RoadGrid for a pan-India EV charging solution and service network to deliver quick, and reliable after sales support. VinFast has also joined hands with BatX Energies for sustainable high-voltage battery recycling and repurposing solutions. 

 

VinFast aims to establish 35 dealerships across India by the end of 2025. The initial set of dealerships will be established in emerging EV markets, including Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Cochin.

 

The VF 7, designed with the ‘asymmetric aerospace’ aesthetic, and the VF 6, embodying the philosophy of ‘dualities in nature,’ reflect VinFast’s commitment to blending elegant design with cutting-edge technology, the company said. Both premium models feature the brand’s distinctive V-shaped LED light strip, panoramic sunroof, driver-centric cockpit with a large touchscreen, and an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS).