With its market entry phase behind it, VinFast is sharpening its India strategy around four moves: deeper retail and service reach, India-centric products, ecosystem partnerships to ease EV adoption, and a calibrated push into new mobility segments.
17 Jan 2026 | 329 Views | By Mukul Yudhveer Singh and Kiran Murali
After laying the groundwork with the VF6 and VF7, Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast is preparing to shift gears in India. The focus is now moving beyond market entry towards scale, localisation, and ecosystem readiness, as the company sharpens its plans for 2026.
At the centre of this next ...
This is an Autocar Pro Plus article. Subscribe to continue reading.
After laying the groundwork with the VF6 and VF7, Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast is preparing to shift gears in India. The focus is now moving beyond market entry towards scale, localisation, and ecosystem readiness, as the company sharpens its plans for 2026.
At the centre of this next phase are four strategic priorities that VinFast believes will determine how quickly it can move from an early-stage entrant to a serious long-term player in India’s EV market.
Expanding access through retail and service
VinFast is pushing ahead with its retail rollout, targeting a footprint of 35 showrooms across major cities by the end of the year, before expanding to around 75 outlets nationwide in the next phase. The strategy extends well beyond metro markets.
“Customers trust a brand only when it is accessible,” said Tapan Sahoo, CEO, VinFast India. “They should be able to see, touch, test, and service a vehicle without friction. Visibility alone does not build confidence in India; accessibility does.”
Alongside showroom expansion, VinFast is scaling its service network, with a strong emphasis on technician training and after-sales support.
“In India, service quality is not optional. It is a fundamental requirement, especially for first-time EV buyers,” Sahoo added.
Products designed around real Indian usage
VinFast’s product roadmap for India is centred on practicality rather than specification-led positioning. In 2026, the company plans to introduce three new electric models, beginning with a premium electric MPV aimed at both family and commercial use cases.
“These products are being designed around real usage patterns and value expectations, not just what looks good on a spec sheet,” Sahoo said. “India’s EV adoption will not be limited to personal mobility. Shared and utility-driven applications will play an equally important role.”
The MPV-led approach reflects VinFast’s view that segments offering flexibility and higher utilisation are likely to drive volumes in the Indian EV market.
Selling EVs is not enough, ecosystems matter
VinFast is clear that vehicle launches alone will not unlock scale in India. Charging availability, predictable running costs, financing, and insurance support remain key barriers for many buyers.
“One of the consistent lessons from mature EV markets is that selling electric vehicles alone is not enough,” Sahoo said. “Customers need confidence that charging is accessible, operating costs are predictable, and support is always available.”
In 2026, VinFast plans to deepen partnerships across charging infrastructure providers, financial institutions, and service ecosystem players, with the aim of making EV usage visible and routine.
“When people see EVs being used confidently every day, hesitation reduces. Those users often become the strongest ambassadors for the technology,” he added.
Looking beyond passenger vehicles
While passenger EVs remain the immediate focus, VinFast is also evaluating opportunities in electric buses and commercial mobility, aligned with infrastructure readiness and policy support.
“We are studying the right timing to enter segments like electric buses, where the impact on urban mobility and emissions can be significant,” Sahoo said. “Any move here will be calibrated and ecosystem-led.”
Electric buses are seen as a long-term opportunity rather than a near-term volume play, with VinFast signalling a cautious and phased approach.
Execution over announcements
VinFast acknowledges that India is a complex and demanding market where progress does not automatically translate into scale.
“We know this journey will not always be easy,” Sahoo said. “There will be challenges and course corrections. But we are committed to learning, improving, and staying the course.”
As the company heads into 2026, its India strategy appears less focused on headline announcements and more on disciplined execution across retail, products, partnerships, and service readiness.
For VinFast, the next phase will test whether foundation-building can now translate into sustained momentum.