PSA to begin local assembly operations in Vietnam this year

Will introduce two new SUVs in addition to the Peugeot 208, 3008 and 508 which are currently sold in Vietnam.

By Autocar Professional Bureau

23 Feb 2017

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The Peugeot 308 is currently sold in Vietnam.

PSA Group and its partner THACO (Truong Haï Auto Corporation) have signed a contract to accelerate the development of their activities in Vietnam by committing to local assembly and bringing to market two new SUVs, to be produced in THACO’s plant in Chulai (Quang Nam Province). The two new SUVs will complement the current range which comprises the Peugeot 208, 3008 and 508.

This new project of local assembly line will kick off in October 2017 and is aiming to cover the needs of the Vietnamese market for volume of 27,000 units over the period 2017-2020.

The signing ceremony was held at the THACO headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City, in the presence of Tran Ba Duong, chairman of the THACO Group, and Denis Martin, executive vice-president China and ASEAN of PSA Group. The THACO Group, leader in the Vietnamese automobile market, is the assembler, importer and distributor of the Peugeot brand in Vietnam since 2014.

This agreement is part of the ‘Push To Pass’ strategic plan of profitable growth and materialises the Group's ambition to accelerate its development in ASEAN.

Commenting on the planned assembly operation, Tran Ba Duong, president of THACO, said: "After a first phase 2014-2016 marked by the return of the Peugeot brand in Vietnam, this agreement materialises the acceleration of our ambition in the Vietnamese market. A dynamic network development plan will accompany the growth of the brand in Vietnam by 2020.”

Denis Martin added, “The strengthening of our partnership in Vietnam with the THACO Group is part of the Group's long-term strategy to increase sales in South East Asia, a strategic region with strong growth potential The development of our local production capacities with THACO will allow us to aim for 5% market share in Vietnam in 2020, a market that should rapidly exceed 300 000 vehicle per year.”

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