VinFast to launch electric 2-wheeler in India in 2026

Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast, which started selling its cars in India this year, plans to enter India’s electric two-wheeler market as well in the second quarter of the next financial year. This entry is expected to boost the competition in the growing electric scooter market here, which is dominated by domestic players such as TVS Motor, Bajaj Auto, Ather Energy and Ola Electric.

“We believe that the Indian market has huge potential for electric two-wheelers. We have a plan to launch two-wheelers in India in 2026,” VinFast Asia Chief Executive Officer Pham Sanh Chau said. The automaker currently sells more than six electric scooter models, including Evo, Feliz, Klara and Vero, across South Asia, and a couple of these will likely be the first set of products to be launched in India.

Chau noted that VinFast is working with the team and channel partners in India to understand the market and requirements, and a feasibility study is underway. “We are in the process of collecting inputs and feedback to launch our two-wheelers in India.”

VinFast started selling electric cars in India in September with two models - the VF 6 and VF 7 - and has around 26 dealerships. Many of these dealerships, Chau said, have shown interest in selling the company’s two-wheelers. ”Many of the current dealers have expressed their keen interest in becoming a dealer for two-wheelers,” he said.

The automaker also has plans to launch its electric buses in India, likely next year. Chau noted that the company is in talks with State Transport undertakings of various states such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana to secure orders of its buses.

VinFast has already announced plans to invest $2 billion (around Rs 16,000 crore) in India, of which $500 million has been invested to set a production plant in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. The plant currently has an annual capacity of 50,000 electric cars, which is expandable to 150,000 cars. The management did not disclose details of the investment and manufacturing for electric two-wheelers and buses.

While the company could be selling locally manufactured electric two-wheelers from the beginning, it is initially likely to introduce its buses as Completely Knocked Down (CKD) or Completely Built Units (CBU).