Author: Dimas Mahendra

Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast has partnered with artificial intelligence company Autobrains to jointly develop advanced autonomous driving technologies, including a lower-cost, camera-based self-driving system. The collaboration is aimed at strengthening VinFast’s driver assistance capabilities while reducing the cost and complexity of autonomy systems, as the automaker seeks to accelerate deployment after years of high investment and delays in self-driving development. See also: VinFast Rolls Out 200,000th EV at Hai Phong Plant in 2025 Under the agreement, the two companies will focus initially on enhancing advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for upcoming VinFast electric vehicles, building on the carmaker’s existing…

Vietnamese vehicle manufacturer Kim Long Motor and Chinese automaker and battery producer BYD have agreed to build a new electric vehicle battery factory in Vietnam, investing about $130 million as the partners seek to strengthen local supply chains and tap into fast-growing regional demand. Kim Long Motor will finance construction of the plant at its automotive production and assembly industrial park in Huế, while BYD will provide battery technology and oversee technical implementation. The project is designed to help Kim Long Motor gradually master battery production know-how and improve the performance, safety and competitiveness of its electric vehicles. See also:…

China’s Geely has begun overseas assembly of its EX2 electric vehicle in Indonesia, marking the first international production of the model, as the automaker accelerates its global expansion and localization strategy. Local partner Handal Indonesia Motor (HIM) is assembling the EX2 at its factory in Purwakarta, with locally sourced components and manufacturing processes accounting for 46.5% of the vehicle’s value. That level exceeds Indonesia’s 40% domestic content requirement, qualifying the model for a preferential value-added tax rate of 1%, compared with the standard 12%. See also: Geely Auto Targets Solid-State Battery Pack Production This Year “We are targeting a domestic…

Line Man plans to deploy 50 units of BYD’s e6 electric multi-purpose vehicle on its ride-hailing platform, as part of an electric taxi programme launched in partnership with local operators. BYD delivered the first batch of vehicles in Bangkok on Jan. 16, the companies said. The initiative is being carried out with ITPP Co., Ltd., which provides taxis under lease and hire-purchase arrangements. Under the Line Man EV Taxi programme, ITPP will supply BYD e6 electric vehicles to drivers operating on the Line Man platform through five-year lease agreements. See also: BYD Thailand Plant Produces 70,000th Vehicle as Export Operations…

VinFast has launched a new seven-seat electric multi-purpose vehicle, the VF MPV 7, in its home market, expanding its passenger EV lineup with a model derived from the Limo Green commercial vehicle introduced last year. The VF MPV 7 measures 4.74 metres in length, 1.87 metres in width and 1.73 metres in height, with a wheelbase of 2.84 metres. VinFast is offering the model in a single configuration, powered by a front-mounted electric motor producing 150 kilowatts and 280 newton metres of torque. Energy is supplied by a 60.13 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, which VinFast says can be…

SAIC-GM-Wuling said the first mass-produced Wuling BingoEV has rolled off the assembly line at the Tan Chong plant in Malaysia, marking the automaker’s first locally assembled Wuling model in the country and a step forward in its regional integration strategy. The vehicle began production on Jan. 20, SAIC-GM-Wuling said, describing the milestone as part of its broader “Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand” strategy to strengthen manufacturing and supply chains across Southeast Asia. The company said the move also reflects its long-term commitment to the Malaysian market. See also: BMW Starts Local Assembly of i5 EV in Malaysia, Expands Regional Production Footprint The local assembly…

BMW Group Malaysia has begun sales of its first locally assembled electric vehicle, the BMW i5, marking a milestone in the automaker’s electrification strategy in Southeast Asia. The move makes Malaysia one of the first markets in the region to produce the electric sedan locally, with a second EV model, the BMW iX1, set to follow later this year. The i5 eDrive40 is now being assembled at BMW’s plant in Kulim, Kedah, operated in partnership with Inokom, a subsidiary of the Sime Darby Group. BMW has operated the facility since 2008, producing vehicles for the local market using completely knocked…

VinFast more than doubled its domestic electric vehicle sales last year, driven largely by strong demand for lower-priced passenger models, as the automaker continued to expand its manufacturing footprint at home and abroad. The company said it sold nearly twice as many vehicles in Vietnam as the previous record held by a foreign brand, offering the broadest electric lineup in the country, ranging from the VF 3 micro-SUV to the VF 9 full-size SUV. Passenger cars accounted for the majority of domestic deliveries. See also: VinFast Rolls Out 200,000th EV at Hai Phong Plant in 2025 The VF 3 micro-SUV…

Honda has introduced the Super-One EV, a new entry-level electric car for its global lineup, unveiling the model at the Singapore Motor Show and launching it simultaneously in the city-state as its first market worldwide. The Super-One EV is the production version of the Super-One Prototype shown at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show and is closely linked to the N-One e: kei car sold in Japan. With compact dimensions of 3,589 mm in length, 1,573 mm in width and 1,616 mm in height, the model is positioned in the ultra-small electric vehicle segment, comparable in size to rivals such as…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng plans to establish independently operated localized supply chain teams in Europe and ASEAN markets in 2026, as part of a broader effort to strengthen overseas operations and support its long-term strategy for local production abroad, Chinese financial media outlet Yicai reported on Tuesday. The initiative is aimed at improving supply chain responsiveness, deepening deployment of local supply resources and enhancing operational efficiency in overseas markets, the report said. Xpeng did not disclose further details on the size or structure of the planned teams. See also: Xpeng Secures $1.4 Billion Credit Line From ICBC Guangdong Branch…

Ho Chi Minh City is preparing to restrict petrol-powered vehicles in designated low-emission zones as part of a broader push to accelerate electric mobility, with a particular focus on two-wheelers used by public officials and ride-hailing fleets. Vietnam’s largest city aims for electric vehicles to account for 50% of motorbikes used by officials and ride-hailing drivers by 2027, rising to full electrification by 2030, according to state-controlled media and policy proposals cited by Nikkei. See also: Japan Warns Vietnam Over Petrol Motorbike Ban, Citing Job Losses and Market Risks A city-backed research institute outlined plans in a proposal published in…

Grab said it plans to induct 20,000 electric vehicles from China’s Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) into its ride-hailing fleet, marking a major expansion of its electrification efforts across Southeast Asia. The Singapore-based super-app said the vehicles will be deployed across its key markets, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The new fleet will consist of three GAC models — the Aion ES, Aion Y and Aion V — as Grab increases the share of electric vehicles used by its driver partners. See also: Momenta Receives Strategic Funding From Grab to Target Southeast Asian Markets “The models feature…

Nio said on Thursday that its premium compact electric vehicle brand Firefly has made its overseas debut at the Singapore Motorshow 2026, marking the first right-hand drive model launched by the Chinese automaker as it steps up global expansion. Pre-orders for the right-hand drive Firefly EV have opened in Singapore, making the city-state the first market to receive the model. Nio is partnering with local automotive retailer Wearnes Automotive, founded in 1906, which represents and retails several premium and luxury vehicle brands. The approach reflects Nio’s broader strategy of relying on distributors in overseas markets rather than pursuing capital-intensive direct…

VinFast said it expects to deliver about 170,000 vehicles in Vietnam in 2025, nearly doubling its domestic deliveries from the previous year, underscoring its continued reliance on its home market as international expansion remains challenging. The Vietnamese electric vehicle maker has struggled to gain traction overseas, particularly in North America, where competition is intense and consumer adoption of newer EV brands has been slower than anticipated. VinFast did not disclose expected international delivery figures for 2025. See also: VinFast Plans To Lift Indonesia Investment To $1 Billion, Local CEO Says VinFast’s U.S.-listed shares fell about 17% last year after dropping…

Chinese battery-swapping technology provider U Power Limited has signed an agreement with Whale Logistics Group to deploy up to 1,000 battery-swapping electric truck tractors in Thailand, with the first vehicles scheduled to enter service in April 2026, the companies said. The partnership represents U Power’s first large-scale commercial move into Southeast Asia and is aimed at supporting Thailand’s push to decarbonize heavy-duty freight transport. Initial deliveries will begin with around 30 trucks, with a phased rollout planned thereafter, focusing on major logistics hubs including the Eastern Economic Corridor and the port of Laem Chabang. Under the agreement, Whale Logistics will…

VinFast said it has produced its 200,000th electric vehicle at its Hai Phong manufacturing complex in 2025, marking a major production milestone as the company consolidates its position as Vietnam’s top-selling automotive brand. The vehicles produced at the Hai Phong plant this year include both units sold domestically and those exported to overseas markets. VinFast said the milestone comes after more than a year in which it has led Vietnam’s automotive market by a wide margin, driven by growing consumer adoption of electric vehicles. See also: VinFast Opens $300 Million EV Plant in Indonesia, Targets Major Localisation Push The 200,000th…

Vietnamese electric vehicle taxi operator Green and Smart Mobility (GSM) is considering a potential initial public offering in Hong Kong, people familiar with the matter said, in what could become the first listing in the city by a company from Vietnam. The company, which operates under the Vingroup umbrella, is targeting a valuation of around $2 billion to $3 billion in a possible IPO that could take place in late 2026 or early 2027, according to two sources with knowledge of the plans. One source said GSM aims to raise at least $200 million, while another noted that the valuation…

Chinese automaker Changan Automobile has begun exporting vehicles from its manufacturing plant in Thailand, marking a new step in the company’s overseas expansion and making it the latest Chinese carmaker to use the country as a regional export base. Changan said its Rayong plant has shipped its first batch of locally produced Deepal S05 vehicles to Europe. Images released by the company showed an initial shipment of around 500 vehicles, though no further export details were disclosed. See also: Changan’s Deepal Completes $874 Million Funding Round to Support Expansion The move follows a broader trend among Chinese automakers establishing production…

Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast has inaugurated a new electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Subang, West Java, marking its first production facility in Southeast Asia outside Vietnam and a major expansion of its global manufacturing footprint. The Subang plant, built on a 171-hectare site, represents an initial investment of more than $300 million and provides annual production capacity of 50,000 vehicles, VinFast said. The company plans to expand the site in later phases to reach 350,000 vehicles per year, with total investment expected to exceed $1 billion. See also: VinFast Scales Back North American Push as Focus Shifts Toward Asia…

Chinese autonomous driving startup Momenta said it has received a strategic investment from Southeast Asian super app Grab, deepening Grab’s involvement in autonomous mobility following a similar investment in WeRide. Momenta announced the investment on Thursday without disclosing the amount. The companies said the partnership will focus on accelerating the adoption of autonomous driving technologies in Southeast Asia, particularly in densely populated cities with complex traffic conditions. See also: Mercedes-Benz and Momenta to Launch Robotaxi Service in Abu Dhab Grab, which operates a super app integrating ride-hailing, food delivery and digital payments across the region, will work with Momenta to…