Thanh Cong Group inaugurates first automobile manufacturing plant in Vietnam's Quang Ninh province

Vietnamese automaker Thanh Cong Group officially inaugurated its Thanh Cong Viet Hung automobile manufacturing plant on Wednesday at the Viet Hung Industrial Park in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

The event was attended by Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Vu Hong Thanh and Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son.

This is the first automobile manufacturing plant in Quang Ninh, a major milestone for both the province and Vietnam’s automotive industry.

Following the inauguration, the plant, located in Ha Long town, will commence operations, focusing on the production and assembly of commercial vehicles under the Skoda brand - one of the oldest automobile manufacturers from the Czech Republic.

The Thanh Cong Viet Hung plant is the centerpiece of the Thanh Cong Viet Hung Automotive and Supporting Industries Complex, an advanced industrial hub designed to become one of Vietnam’s leading automotive production centers. Covering 36.5 hectares, the plant boasts a designed capacity of 120,000 vehicles per year.

The plant features state-of-the-art production workshops, including welding, painting, and assembly lines, all equipped with high levels of automation and cutting-edge global automotive technologies. Its intelligent data management system ensures efficiency and strict quality control, aligning with international standards.

Its construction began in early 2023, and by late 2024, trial operations had commenced. After 25 months of development, the plant is fully completed and ready for production. To ensure smooth operations, Thanh Cong has also invested in logistics infrastructure, a wastewater treatment facility, and a 1.5 km-long test track designed to simulate various real-world driving conditions.

The first model, Skoda Kushaq, is set to hit the domestic market in the second quarter of 2025. The plant is expected to create thousands of jobs, boost Quang Ninh’s economy, and position Vietnam’s automotive industry as a stronger player in the global supply chain.

At the inauguration ceremony, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to advancing key industries like automotive manufacturing as part of Vietnam’s long-term industrialization strategy.

He highlighted ongoing efforts to attract investment in large-scale, high-tech automotive projects and foster stronger ties between domestic and international manufacturers.

Dien expressed his confidence that Thanh Cong’s new plant, built according to international standards, would drive the industry forward, generate employment, and enhance Vietnam’s manufacturing competitiveness. He also reiterated the ministry’s support in helping automotive businesses expand production and integrate into global supply chains.

Chairman of the Quang Ninh provincial People's Committee Pham Duc An underscored the project’s significance, calling it a prime example of successful collaboration between Vietnam’s private sector and global industrial leaders.

He noted that such partnership will help Vietnam deepen its integration into international supply chains, boosting both local economic growth and national industrial self-sufficiency.

With Quang Ninh targeting a 14% economic growth rate in 2025, surpassing the national target by 2%, ensuring the Thanh Cong Viet Hung plant enters full-scale production as planned will be a key factor in achieving this goal, he said.