‘Ideal location, talent pool and govt. support drove VinFast's decision to set up plant in T.N.'
Thoothukudi's strategic location, Tamil Nadu's talent pool, and government support were the key factors behind VinFast's decision to set up its manufacturing plant in the State, VinFast Asia CEO Pham Sanh Chau said.
The Vietnamese carmaker is set to begin the production of its VF7 and VF6 models at the Thoothukudi plant in July, while bookings will open in June.
During the Global Investors Meet in Chennai last year, VinFast inked an MoU with the Tamil Nadu government for an investment of ₹16,000 crore in multiple phases for manufacturing EVs in Thoothukudi.
Speaking to The Hindu in Hanoi recently, Mr. Chau said, 'We visited six States and inspected 15 locations before we decided to select Thoothukudi. Since we want to serve not only the domestic market, but also the external market, we need to be located very close to a seaport and an airport. Thoothukudi satisfies these requirements.'
Mr. Chau said Tamil Nadu had an impressive pool of talent. VinFast Vietnam employed a large number of Indian engineers, the majority of whom were from Tamil Nadu, he said, adding that the State was also a hub for suppliers.
'The government of Tamil Nadu has been extremely helpful. Whenever we propose anything, they make the effort and satisfy our requirements. We cannot build a factory in 15 months without the kind, continuous and generous support from the government of Tamil Nadu...from Chief Minister M.K. Stalin himself, his Cabinet, and especially Minister for Industries T.R.B. Rajaa. So, that is why…[though] we were approached by many State governments, we made a final call to invest in Tamil Nadu,' he said.
Responding to Mr. Chau's comments, Mr. Rajaa said, 'VinFast's integrated factory in Thoothukudi has laid the foundation for a new green industrial cluster in south Tamil Nadu. Along with the solar cell and green hydrogen projects, this factory will bring renewed economic vigour to the region.'
According to him, the VinFast project is creating high-quality jobs for local youth through targeted upskilling under Naan Mudhalvan, while also enabling a thriving MSME ecosystem to support the EV value chain.
'This cluster approach is focused on sustainability and inclusivity. It aims to transform Thoothukudi into a next-generation manufacturing and export hub. With its proximity to the port, the region is set to become a gateway for exports,' he added.
According to him, Tamil Nadu's focus remains on equitable industrial development, and VinFast's investment stands as an example of how the government is creating global opportunities across the State, ensuring distributed growth.
(The writer was in Hanoi on the invitation of VinFast).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- The Hindu
CM Stalin inaugurates Agile Robots, SOL India facilities with investment of ₹475 crore
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday inaugurated Agile Robots SE's AI-driven robotics plant at Irungattukottai Sipcot, and SOL India Private Limited's air separation facility at Ranipet Sipcot, at a total investment of ₹475 crore. Agile Robots has invested ₹300 crore in its robotics plant in Irungattukottai. The project has provided 300 jobs for local engineers and technology experts, an official statement said. Mr. Stalin also presented internship letters to six students from various colleges SOL India's air separation facility has been established at an investment of ₹175 crore. SOL had signed Memoranda of Understanding with the State government during the Global Investors Meet (GIM) in 2019 and in 2024 for an investment of ₹100 crore and ₹200 crore, respectively, it added. The ₹175 crore investment includes the commitments made during the GIM. The Chief Minister virtually inaugurated the facilities from the Secretariat. Minister for Industries T.R.B. Rajaa, Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam, Industries Secretary Arun Roy and top officials from Agile Robots and SOL were present.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Dutch car sharing firm adds Renault EVs capable of powering local grid
Dutch car sharing firm MyWheels will plug in the first of 500 grid-connectable Renault EVs to its fleet in the Netherlands this week, expanding the number of vehicles in Europe capable of strengthening the power grid as the technology gains traction. Vehicle-to-grid technology , known as V2G, allows electric vehicles to store power and provide it to the electricity grid at times of peak demand. The technology has been available for several years but only recently became commercially viable after the introduction of smart charging technology and batteries able to sustain intensive usage. The rollout by MyWheels will be the largest V2G car-sharing scheme in Europe and the largest addition of V2G-enabled cars in the region. It follows growing concern about grid stability after a major blackout in Spain and Portugal this year, and sabotage to power supply in southern France during this year's Cannes film festival, which have triggered more interest in a technology that can help balance fluctuating supply and demand, said Kees Koolen, an investor in We Drive Solar, the Dutch producer of the special chargers used in the project. "It feels like we're at a tipping point," said Koolen, who estimated that the project in the Dutch city of Utrecht has cost around 100 million euros ($114 million) to develop. The global V2G market was worth $3.4 billion in 2024, according to Global Market Insights, and is expected to grow by 38% annually between 2025 and 2034 to reach $80 billion. The Netherlands is an early adopter of V2G technology due to ambitious plans to electrify its transport and heating systems while also moving to renewables. Japan's Nissan has also recently supplied dozens of V2G-enabled Leaf and Ariya models to France and Spain. MyWheels says 500 of Renault's V2G-compatible cars, including its electric R5, will be on the road by next year. When not driving, the cars will be plugged into We Drive Solar's bidirectional chargers and the scheme's operators will be paid for electricity absorbed and sold to the grid. Grids have become increasingly unstable with growing electrification and as more intermittent renewable energy is fed into the system. "Our research shows that vehicle-to-grid technology could allow the growing electric vehicle fleet to become a significant asset to the grid, with vast storage potential locked up in electric vehicles," said Madeleine Brolly, advanced transport analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance. A key challenge ahead will be standardisation across manufacturers, which will be needed for it to be adopted at scale, she added.
Hans India
a day ago
- Hans India
Guv Kambhampati suggests Odisha-Da Nang partnership during Vietnam visit
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, who led a delegation to Vietnam to bring sacred relics of Lord Buddha back to India, proposed exploring province-level ties between Odisha and Da Nang city in Vietnam, as per an official statement released on Tuesday. The proposal was made during his meeting with H.E. Le Trung Chinh, Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee. The Governor said Odisha is a state with a rich history, strong cultural traditions, and fast economic growth. 'We also have many important Buddhist sites. If Da Nang is interested, we can explore building ties between our two regions,' he added. Kambhampati praised Da Nang as a beautiful and historic city, making huge progress. 'Da Nang has a vision to become a major port, a centre for high technology, finance, and tourism,' the Governor said. He added that Da Nang's location as a vibrant coastal city in central Vietnam makes it important for economic and trade cooperation between India and Vietnam. The Governor thanked the Vietnamese government and the people of Da Nang for their warm hospitality and the excellent arrangements made for the sacred relics of Lord Buddha, which received an overwhelming response from the local population. 'These relics are accorded the highest protocol by the Government of India, and I have personally travelled to accompany them back,' he said. Governor Kambhampati said that Buddhism has been a strong link between India and Vietnam for nearly 1,800 years. He said India values its Buddhist heritage and is working hard to protect and promote Buddhist sites. He also spoke about the growing partnership between India and Vietnam. He mentioned the visit of the Vietnamese Prime Minister to India last year and a meeting between the Indian Prime Minister and Vietnam's President and Party General Secretary To Lam in New York in 2024, which helped strengthen ties. The Governor said cooperation between the two countries is expanding in areas like trade, defence, tourism, health, digital economy, education, and sustainable development. He praised Da Nang's support in working with the Indian Embassy to promote yoga, cultural exchange, and academic ties. He also noted that more direct flights between the two countries have helped improve people-to-people contact. Kambhampati also shared his experience of visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site at My Son in central Vietnam. He appreciated the work of the Indian archaeological team restoring ancient temples and said the project is a strong symbol of the close historical and cultural connection between India and Vietnam.
