Discover how Vietnam’s car assembly sector surged in 2025, driving exports and attracting global brands. Read more now!
The latest figures released by the Statistics Department of the Ministry of Finance reveal a striking jump in domestic vehicle assembly for both cars and motorcycles in Vietnam for the year 2025. Production estimates show a double‑digit increase over 2024, signalling a vibrant and expanding automotive ecosystem.
2025 Production Snapshot
In December alone, approximately 60,700 cars rolled off Vietnamese assembly lines, pushing the cumulative annual total to an estimated 484,500 units. That represents a 39% year‑on‑year rise compared with the same period in 2024.
Motorcycle assembly also kept pace, with an estimated 340,600 units completed in December, lifting the 2025 domestic output to just over 3.42 million motorcycles. Compared with December 2024, motorcycle production is up about 4.5% for the month and roughly 6.6% on a full‑year basis.
Export Momentum
Vietnam’s assembled vehicles are not confined to the local market. Leading manufacturers are leveraging the country’s cost‑competitive factories to serve overseas demand:
- VinFast exported 2,500 electric cars to Indonesia.
- TC Motor shipped Hyundai Palisade SUVs to Thailand.
- Honda Vietnam reported motorcycle exports exceeding 16,000 units in November 2025.
How Vietnam Stacks Up Regionally
Despite robust growth, Vietnam still trails its regional neighbours in total vehicle output:
- Thailand: 724,715 cars assembled in the first half of 2025, the largest plant base in Southeast Asia.
- Indonesia: 552,509 cars shipped in the same six‑month window.
- Malaysia: 352,626 cars exported in the first half of the year.
- Vietnam: Approximately 226,500 cars exported in the first half of 2025.
The gap highlights that Vietnam is still emerging as a regional automotive hub, but the acceleration in 2025 suggests the distance could narrow quickly.
Key Players Operating in Vietnam
About ten global brands—from mass‑market to premium—have either fully or partially localized production in Vietnam:
- Toyota and Honda are preparing to launch locally assembled hybrid models.
- Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, and Peugeot continue full‑scale assembly at existing plants.
- BMW and Mercedes‑Benz maintain luxury‑segment lines, with Mercedes extending its contract for the E‑Class and C‑Class production in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Skoda introduced the locally assembled Kushaq and Slavia, adding European‑style options to the market.
Chinese Automakers Eye Vietnam
The wave of Chinese manufacturers entering Southeast Asia has not bypassed Vietnam. Among them:
- Chery is the most advanced, having broken ground on an Omoda and Jaecoo assembly plant in Hưng Yên province in late October 2026, with production slated for later this year.
- Geely has announced plans but has yet to confirm a construction timeline.
- Great Wall Motors appears unlikely to pursue a Vietnamese facility at this stage.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Industry analysts expect the upward trajectory to continue into 2026, provided that the domestic parts and components sector expands in step with vehicle assembly. A stronger supply‑chain ecosystem will be essential for Vietnam to compete for higher‑value models and to close the production gap with its neighbours.
With global brands deepening their local commitments and new entrants like Chery gearing up for production, Vietnam’s car assembly industry is poised to become a key pillar of the country’s manufacturing future.