VinFast is working to develop a certified repair network (CRN) as construction begins on its electric vehicle (EV) factory in North Carolina.

A spokesman told Repairer Driven News that VinFast’s initial orders are slated for the U.S. market, and that a monthly production estimate will be released at a later date.

VinFast will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its factory, designed to reach a capacity of 150,000 vehicles per year, today in Chatham County.

The factory will sit on an 1,800-acre lot and encompass EV and production assemblies. Supplementary supplier businesses will also be housed on the land, VinFast said.

It’s expected that the factory will open in 2025. Monthly projections are dependent on demand and the month it begins production, the spokesman said.

Madam Le Thi Thu Thuy, VinFast’s chief executive, said the North Carolina manufacturing facility is among the OEM’s key projects. 

“When it begins operations, the factory will be VinFast’s primary supplier of electric vehicles to the North American market, allowing us to optimize production and business activities,” Thuy said.

“We hope the construction of the factory in Chatham County will contribute to advancing the clean energy economy in the U.S. and help to support North Carolina’s green mobility strategy.”

VinFast, which is headquartered in Vietnam, delivered its first batch of cars to the U.S. in March, according to a Reuters report.

The automaker has previously said it plans to gain market share by offering “premium features, including infotainment, driver assist, ADAS and other enhancements expected in a top-end EV ownership experience” on all of its vehicles.

Although Tesla continues to dominate the EV market, startups like VinFast and established OEMs like Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, and Kia are presenting a growing challenge, particularly in the sub-$50,000 bracket, where “Tesla does not truly compete,” according to an analysis by S&P Global Mobility.

Separately, VinFast said in May that I-CAR’s Gold Class shop-level credentialing will be a requirement for its U.S. repair network. I-CAR will provide VinFast’s Certified Collision Network with technical education including welding certifications.

Its North Carolina project was propped up by a number of grants, including a $1.2 billion incentive package from North Carolina.

VinFast said that in addition to the factory, it’s also building up its brand recognition by expanding its retail store and service center system, organizing local test drives.

“These efforts will aid in bringing opportunities for customers to directly experience VinFast’s EVs,” it said in a press release.

Although VinFast is among a number of automakers accelerating EV plans, some reports have indicated that their enthusiasm isn’t necessarily matched by consumers.

For instance, earlier this year KMPG surveyed more than 900 leaders for its Global Automotive Executive Survey and found the majority to be less optimistic about EVs than they were a year earlier.

In 2021, executives predicted that emission-free vehicles would capture between 20 and 70% of the market by 2030. Last year, the forecast dropped with auto leaders saying it’s now likely that EVs will comprise just 10 to 40% of market share by the end of the decade.

Images

Main and secondary images courtesy of VinFast