Amongst the spate of launches, announcements and mission statements unveiled at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo now on in the national capital region (which for most people is interchangeable with the Auto Expo) was also one by VinFast, a brand that rings no bell for most except hardcore auto observers.
Launched almost unnoticed (the assigned launch time for the company was perhaps the most unsexy, early morning on Saturday at 9 am), VinFast comes with a significance that could have a long-term impact on the Indian, and global, mobility market — it is the first Vietnamese carmaker to enter India, and by extension, the first outside the Big Four of the auto world — Japan, US, Europe and Korea.
The Vietnamese Nasdaq-listed automaker which comes from one of the country’s biggest conglomerates, Vingroup JSC, unveiled two electric SUVs for the Indian market — the VF 6 and VF 7. Both cars are expected to hit the market in the monsoon of this year, once VinFast’s vehicle manufacturing plant in Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu starts churning out the premium models.
Vinfast auto India launches VF6 at Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 at Bharat Mandapam | Sanjay Ahlawat
Calling the company’s entry into the Indian market a ‘milestone’, VinFast Asia’s CEO Pham San Chau said, “Our presence here not only underlines our commitment to the Indian market but also showcases our vision for sustainable mobility solutions and advanced technology.”
He hoped that the two models being launched in the Indian market would be “game changers that will accelerate the adoption of EVs in India.”
VinFast India Deputy CEO (sales & marketing) said, “Our India-centric premium SUVs VF 7 and VF 6 are expected to go for sale from the early second half of the calendar year 2025. VinFast is appointing dealers across all major towns in India with omni channel presence.”
VinFast’s entry into India is significant on two counts. One, it signals Vietnam’s arrival on the global stage as a powerhouse manufacturing hub, with the country being the choice for many multinationals shifting their manufacturing plants out of China, way more than India. On a consolation note, India can take heart in the fact that countries and companies besides those of the more advanced economies are being lured by the attraction of the Indian market.
