“India is critical to our global strategy”: VinFast’s Asia CEO Pham Sanh Chau on expansion, EV culture and what's next

Over the past year, VinFast has accelerated its presence in India – launching electric SUVs, onboarding dealers and signalling that more products are already lined up. The company also inaugurated its first manufacturing plant outside Vietnam on August 4, 2025, in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. Spread across 400 acres within the SIPCOT Industrial Park, the factory has an installed annual capacity of up to 150,000 units, with plans to expand to 200,000. The facility isn’t designed solely for India – it will serve key export regions including South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

To understand VinFast’s ambitions and timeline for the region, we spoke with Pham Sanh Chau, CEO of VinFast for Asia – the executive overseeing what is now one of the company’s most strategically important markets.

India: A key pillar in a global strategy

Chau doesn’t mince words when asked about India’s role in VinFast’s global roadmap. “India is very important for VinFast,” he says. “Not only because of the market size, but because India will play a major role in exports. We have full support from the government – and several incentives have already been provided.”

VinFast entered the Indian market with the VF6 and VF7, both positioned firmly in the premium EV segment. “These two models already position us as a premier carmaker,” Chau notes. “We only want to compete in the premium segment. The response has been positive, and now we must build on that confidence.”

The company is planning an aggressive product cadence: one new car every six months. “One car will be launched every six months — that’s our commitment to India,” he says. The next product – a seven-seat flagship SUV, the Limo Green – is scheduled for launch in February. Models like the VF3 and VF5 will follow as well.

Changing perception

For Chau, the goal isn't just big sales, but also a change in perception. “We want to change the mindset that EVs are second cars,” he says. “We want VinFast to be the first car for Indians – aspirational, premium, desirable.” That positioning mirrors the company’s approach in Vietnam, where VinFast quickly moved from an unknown brand to a status symbol. The VF8 and VF9, and even the Limo Green, have big waiting lists.

Two-wheeler strategy

VinFast is also preparing to enter the two-wheeler segment — a category that dominates Indian mobility. The company already manufactures e-scooters at scale in Vietnam, and Chau confirms India is next: “Electric scooters will arrive in India in 2026. Feasibility testing is already underway.” Unlike some rivals, VinFast isn’t entering with an adapted product. “We are collecting inputs and designing two-wheelers specifically for India,” he says. There’s interest from the dealers as well. “Many of our current four-wheeler dealers have already expressed interest in scooters. The demand is there.” For now, electric motorcycles are off the table. “Scooters first,” Chau says. “Motorcycles are not in our immediate plan.”

Infrastructure, charging and ecosystem

VinFast is exploring a multi-layer charging strategy: Public chargers through partners, and VGreen stations wherever needed. The company has already partnered with Tata for charging access. Chau adds, “We are open to building our own network. We are flexible. Battery-as-a-Service is also possible in India – Vingroup is very flexible as a company.” But he also hinted that VinFast also wants to own the ecosystem. “Our USP is that we have a full ecosystem – V-Green charging stations and service centres”. With this, it will be interesting to see what route the brand takes in the upcoming times.

Beyond personal mobility

VinFast isn’t limiting its India vision to private buyers. Electric buses and taxis are part of the portfolio – and closer than expected. “We have spoken with chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh,” Chau says. “They expressed readiness. Our EV buses will come by August 2026.” VinFast will also deploy an EV taxi fleet – a strategy used successfully in Vietnam to accelerate adoption.

Then comes the long-term vision – one that echoes Vietnam’s VinHomes megaprojects. “We want to replicate the same model as Vietnam – a Bharat Future City based on green mobility, green energy, hospitals, schools and universities.”

Looking ahead

VinFast is entering a competitive landscape – global EV giants, domestic manufacturers and emerging startups all want a share of India’s electrification wave. But Chau remains unfazed. “We understand the competition. We are up for the challenge.” To him, the next few months and years are about establishing the brand’s identity. “Our global mission is clear,” he says, “Make India – and the world – green.”