Škoda Auto celebrated its market entry in Vietnam with a special event organized together with the local distribution and production partner Thanh Cong Group. The event was attended by representatives of the Vietnamese and Czech governments. The company plans a rapid expansion of the dealer network to up to 30 partners and an annual sales potential of more than 40,000 units beyond 2030.
The Czech car manufacturer presented the Czech-produced SUV model series Karoq and Kodiaq, which will be the first models available on the local market. Customers can purchase these at the first Škoda showroom in Hanoi from 25 September onwards.
The Octavia and Superb models are slated for importation to Vietnam in the medium term. Additionally, the all-electric Enyaq family is being introduced to cater to the growing demand for electric vehicles among Vietnamese consumers.
Starting in the second half of 2024, Škoda will be tapping into significant regional synergies. By then, the first Kushaq vehicles will have been exported from the Pune facility in India to Vietnam for assembly from CKD (Completely Knocked Down) kits, with the Slavia set to follow in 2025.
Construction of a production line at the Viet Hung Industrial Park in Quang Ninh province by Škoda’s local partner TC Group is already underway. Based on market trends, there are ambitions to ramp up production, potentially assembling as many as 27,000 vehicles annually after 2027.
According to Škoda, Vietnam has the highest growth potential in the region. The capacity at the Viet Hung Industrial Park, where the TC Group-owned plant is located, could be used in the future to expand production with a view to potentially exporting Škoda models across the entire ASEAN region.
“We are excited to engage with Vietnam’s dynamic economy and a new group of customers in this fast-growing market. This is also the next step in our accelerating internationalisation strategy, strengthening our brand in the ASEAN region and intensifying the synergies between our two key markets of India and Europe." said Klaus Zellmer, Škoda Auto CEO.
Source: Škoda Auto