Author: Dimas Mahendra

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…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio said it will enter the Thai market next year, marking its first expansion into Southeast Asia beyond Singapore and its most ambitious regional move to date. The company plans to introduce all three of its brands — Nio, Onvo, and Firefly — in Thailand, with the compact Firefly electric car set to launch first as the group targets younger consumers. Thailand will be the first Southeast Asian market for both the Nio and Onvo brands, though the company has not yet disclosed the rollout sequence or model lineup for those marques. See also: Nio Launches…

Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast plans to increase its investment in Indonesia to as much as $1 billion, the head of its local unit said on Monday, as the company expands manufacturing capacity in Southeast Asia’s largest economy. The comments came as VinFast Indonesia inaugurated its first manufacturing plant in the country, located in Subang, West Java, with an initial production capacity of 50,000 vehicles per year. See also: VinFast Launches VF 7 Electric SUV in Indonesia “VinFast will continue to increase its investment to $1 billion, with an increase in production capacity to 350,000 per year,” Kariyanto Hardjosoemarto, chief…