Author: Dimas Mahendra

Vietnamese transportation company Huy Long has signed an agreement to purchase 2,000 electric vehicles from domestic automaker VinFast, marking one of the latest large-scale fleet electrification initiatives in the country. The vehicles will be deployed in phases across Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and several provinces in central Vietnam as part of Huy Long’s strategy to modernize its transportation operations and reduce reliance on internal combustion engine vehicles. Green SM to Support Fleet Operations To support the rollout, Huy Long has partnered with Green SM, the electric mobility platform backed by Vingroup. Under the agreement, Green SM will provide technology…

Nissan has confirmed plans to launch its N7 electric sedan in the Philippines under the revived Primera EV nameplate, making the Southeast Asian nation the first international market to receive the China-developed model. The Japanese automaker showcased the Primera EV at the tenth Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS), signaling its intention to expand the N7 beyond China as part of its broader electrification strategy. The Primera name was previously used on Nissan’s internal combustion engine-powered sedans, liftbacks and estate cars sold globally between the 1990s and early 2000s. The company is now reviving the badge for an all-electric successor. Launch…

Xpeng has produced its first locally assembled G6 SUV in Malaysia, marking a significant milestone in the Chinese electric vehicle maker’s regional expansion strategy and strengthening its presence in Southeast Asia. The company announced on Friday that the first Malaysia-assembled G6 rolled off the production line at its local manufacturing partner, EP Manufacturing Bhd (EPMB), describing the achievement as an important step in its ASEAN growth plans. Local Production Begins in Malaysia The assembly program stems from a strategic partnership signed between Xpeng and EPMB in late 2025. Under the agreement, EPMB’s wholly owned subsidiary PJVM is responsible for assembling…

Nissan has unveiled two China-developed vehicles at the 10th Philippine International Motor Show, marking the first public demonstration of its new “From China” export strategy and signaling a broader shift in how the automaker intends to leverage its Chinese operations for global markets. The two models, the Navara Pro Plug-in Hybrid pickup and the Primera EV sedan, represent the first vehicles developed in China that Nissan plans to introduce internationally under the strategy. China Becomes Global Export Base The initiative reflects a significant evolution in Nissan’s global manufacturing and product development approach, positioning China not only as one of the…

Stellantis has started local assembly of Leapmotor electric vehicles in Malaysia, producing the Leapmotor C10 SUV at its Gurun manufacturing facility in Kedah as part of efforts to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia’s growing electric vehicle market. The company said the Leapmotor B10 is expected to join production at the plant by the end of 2026, expanding the lineup assembled in Malaysia. The move marks a new phase in the partnership between Stellantis and Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Leapmotor, with Malaysia being positioned as a key manufacturing base for the ASEAN region. Investment Supports Local EV Production Stellantis said…

LG Energy Solution, Honda and the City of Hanoi have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a battery-swapping pilot program for electric two-wheelers in Vietnam’s capital, marking a new step in efforts to expand electric mobility infrastructure in one of the world’s largest motorcycle markets. The initiative will deploy approximately 50 battery-swapping stations and 500 battery-swappable electric two-wheelers across Hanoi as part of an initial demonstration phase. Under the agreement, LG Energy Solution will supply cylindrical 2170 battery cells and oversee infrastructure operations, battery lifecycle management and safety systems. Honda will provide the electric vehicles and battery exchange technology,…

Green GSM Philippines and Philippine National Bank (PNB) have entered into a financial and digital banking partnership designed to support the expansion of Green GSM’s all-electric ride-hailing operations across the country. Under the agreement, PNB will provide a credit facility as well as digital banking services for Green GSM’s driver network. The partnership also includes account management and payment solutions through PNB’s corporate banking platform, which the companies said will help reduce account activation times and improve operational efficiency. Partnership Supports Electric Mobility Growth The collaboration comes as Green GSM continues to expand its presence in the Philippines’ electric mobility…

VinFast has announced a collaboration with Autobrains and Nvidia to develop a Level 4 autonomous driving program for Southeast Asia, as the Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer seeks to advance autonomous mobility technologies in one of the world’s most challenging traffic environments. The initiative, unveiled at GTC Taipei, will be built on Nvidia’s Drive Hyperion 10 platform and combines Autobrains’ Agentic AI software with Nvidia’s autonomous driving hardware and software ecosystem. The companies said the program will focus on validating autonomous driving capabilities in Southeast Asia’s dense and often unpredictable traffic conditions. Targeting Complex Urban Environments Southeast Asia presents a unique…

Vietnamese automaker VinFast has unveiled the second-generation VinFast VF 8 electric sport utility vehicle, with the redesigned model set to launch first in the company’s domestic market. The new VF 8 features a smaller overall footprint compared with the outgoing version. VinFast said the vehicle measures 4.70 metres in length, 1.87 metres in width and 1.67 metres in height, making it shorter and narrower than the previous generation while slightly taller. The wheelbase has also been reduced by 11 centimetres to 2.84 metres. Despite the smaller dimensions, VinFast said the redesigned model adopts a more dynamic exterior design inspired by…

Chinese commercial vehicle and heavy equipment manufacturer Sany has entered Vietnam’s electric heavy-duty truck market with the launch of its EV550 electric tractor truck, as the company expands its presence in Southeast Asia’s commercial vehicle sector. Sany said it has already secured orders for more than 100 electric heavy-duty trucks in Vietnam following the market launch. The company appointed Hung Thinh EV Truck, a subsidiary of Vietnamese conglomerate Hung Thinh, as the exclusive distributor for its electric tractor trucks in the country. According to Sany, Vietnamese cement producer Long Son Cement placed an order for 100 electric heavy-duty trucks on…

Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast said it has appointed Pham Nhat Quan Anh as chairman of the company’s board of directors, effective May 23, 2026, as the automaker enters what it described as its next phase of global expansion. Pham Nhat Quan Anh replaces Le Thi Thu Thuy, who will step down as chairwoman and member of VinFast’s board. VinFast said Le Thi Thu Thuy will continue serving as vice chairwoman of Vingroup, where she will focus on strategic priorities for the group. Pham Nhat Quan Anh currently serves as vice chairman and standing deputy general director at VinFast Trading…

Chinese automaker SAIC Motor has started local assembly of the MG4 EV Urban in Thailand ahead of the electric hatchback’s market launch, marking the first time the new-generation model is being produced outside China. The vehicle is being assembled from completely knocked-down (CKD) kits at a manufacturing facility in Chonburi Province operated through a joint venture between SAIC and Charoen Pokphand Group. The MG4 EV Urban becomes the third MG-branded electric vehicle to enter local production in Thailand following the MG4 EV and MG S5 EV, which began production in 2023 and 2025 respectively. While previous media reports suggested SAIC…