Vinfast breaks ground at North Carolina EV factory

VinFast announced on July 28 that it has officially broken ground at its electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing complex located within the Triangle Innovation Point in Chatham County, North Carolina.

The breaking-ground ceremony marks a significant milestone in VinFast’s global expansion and supply chain development in North America.

The US factory is the first EV manufacturing facility in North Carolina and the largest economic development initiative in the state’s history.

With first-phase investment of up to $2 billion, the factory spans approximately 1,800 acres and is divided into five main production areas, including a body shop, a general assembly area, a press shop, a paint shop, and an energy center. There will also be functional facilities on the premises.

In the initial phase, it will focus on building VinFast’s VF 7, VF 8, and VF 9 EVs, with an expected production capacity of 150,000 units a year. The supplier base for components and materials will be primarily concentrated in the US, Vietnam, and a few other countries. Future expansion and updates for the factory will be identified in the next phase.

VinFast has appointed Clayco as the general contractor and construction management company to lead the project and will begin the bidding process to select subcontractors shortly.

“North Carolina’s skilled and diverse workforce is our greatest strength, and we have the largest manufacturing workforce in the southeast,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “This VinFast factory will create thousands of good-paying jobs in our state, along with a healthier environment as more electric vehicles take to the road.”

“Today’s event marks a new milestone for VinFast, affirming our commitment to the North American market,” Ms. Le Thi Thu Thuy, CEO of VinFast, said during the breaking-ground ceremony. “Not only will this project create thousands of jobs and contribute to North Carolina’s economic development, but VinFast’s electric vehicles produced here will also bring additional economic benefits to consumers. We also look forward to contributing to the development of the North Carolina community - our second home - during production and business operations.”

The factory is expected to commence production in 2025, creating an ecosystem of suppliers and thousands of jobs.

VinFast’s first EV factory outside of Vietnam, it will also play an important role as the company strives to reach world-class levels of sustainable mobility on a global scale.

A member of Vingroup, VinFast is envisioned to drive the global revolution towards smart EVs. Established in 2017, it owns a state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing complex with up to 90 per cent automation in the northern port city of Hai Phong.