VinGroup maps out high-speed India expansion with EV manufacturing, integrated mobility push

VinGroup is accelerating its India ambitions, unveiling a rapid-execution strategy that spans electric vehicle manufacturing, supplier ecosystem development and large-scale smart townships. At the ETAuto EV Conclave 2025, Pham Sanh Chau, MD & CEO, VinGroup Asia Operations, outlined how India has become central to the Vietnamese conglomerate’s Asia growth plans.Location scouting

Chau said the group evaluated 16 sites across six states before selecting Tamil Nadu for its first Indian manufacturing base. The project moved at an unprecedented pace and was completed within 15 months, with production starting in September and the plant becoming one of the group’s top performers by November. Plans for India

The company’s India strategy rests on five pillars: manufacturing, dealer network expansion, service and repair operations, charging infrastructure and mobility services. VinGroup has established 35 dealers and 40 charging stations so far and plans to scale these to 1,000 and ultimately 10,000. The group is also building a localised supplier park across 500 acres in Tamil Nadu to deepen localisation in batteries, motors and engineering components and bring down bill-of-materials costs.Beyond automotive operations, VinGroup aims to bring its integrated “VinCity” township model to India, starting with Telangana. The smart city blueprint mirrors its developments in Vietnam, where 30 townships combine green power, EV-based mobility, embedded charging, schools, hospitals and residential clusters into a unified ecosystem. “Unless you have a complete ecosystem, sustainability will be very limited,” Chau said.The group is positioning mobility as a core enabler of these smart cities electric buses, cars, e-scooters and e-bicycles form part of the intra-township network, supported by renewable energy and incentives such as preferred parking for EVs. VinGroup also plans to upgrade surrounding road infrastructure, including expanding two-lane stretches to six lanes to ensure seamless connectivity.Replication of success in Vietnam

To attract EV buyers, Chau said the company will replicate strategies from Vietnam free charging, battery subscription models and zero down payment schemes. These measures, he noted, reduce running costs, build user familiarity with charging behaviour and stimulate demand that encourages more players to expand charging networks.The first integrated township in India could be completed within three years once agreements with Telangana are finalised. “In our group, everything needs to move very fast. If you are not fast enough, you are disqualified,” Chau said, noting the company’s packed execution pipeline across Asia.

Although VinFast operates in 16 countries, including the US and Europe, Chau said Asia led by India will anchor the next phase of the company’s global expansion. “India is, if not the most, then one of the most important markets for us,” he said.