VinFast’s first EV manufacturing plant in India inaugurated in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on Monday (August 4, 2025), inaugurated Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) maker VinFast’s first manufacturing plant in India at Thoothukudi.

Spread across 408 acres at the SIPCOT industrial complex in Sillanatham in Thoothukudi district, the plant is expected to generate over 3,500 jobs in the next five years. It is part of a ₹16,000-crore investment pact inked between VinFast and the Tamil Nadu government during the Global Investors Meet last year (2024).

Speaking after inaugurating the plant, Mr. Stalin said the facility was built in record time – within 17 months of the signing of the MoU
| Photo Credit:
N. Rajesh

The plant will initially have a production capacity of 50,000 vehicles per year, with the potential to reach 1,50,000 to meet future demand.

Speaking after inaugurating the plant, Mr. Stalin said the facility was built in record time – within 17 months of the signing of the MoU. This, he said, demonstrated the ease of doing business in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin with a VF7 model car as he launched the rollout of cars from the shop floor
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Highlighting Tamil Nadu’s reputation as a manufacturing powerhouse, he said, “Chennai is India’s Detroit.” He added that 40% of all electric vehicles sold in India were manufactured in Tamil Nadu.

Pointing out that VinFast had provided jobs to hundreds of local youth under the ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ initiative, he said its investments would drive growth and development not only in Thoothukudi but also in other southern districts of the State.

Noting that VinFast’s parent company Vingroup also had other business interests including education, healthcare, and technology, he invited the Vietnamese conglomerate to make more long-term investments into Tamil Nadu, adding that the State government would provide all necessary support.

The plant will initially have a production capacity of 50,000 vehicles per year, with the potential to reach 1,50,000 to meet future demand.
| Photo Credit:
N. Rajesh

‘Sign’ifying the launch

The Chief Minister signed on the bonnet of a VF7 model to launch the rollout of cars from the shop floor.

Chief Minister Stalin signing the first car
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa said that around 18 months ago, many people were sceptical about the possibility of setting up a car manufacturing plant in Thoothukudi. But now, the facility was up and running, he added.

Pham Sanh Chau, CEO of VinFast Asia, said, “We aim to develop it [Thoothukudi plant] into VinFast’s largest export hub for South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. In fact, we have already secured orders from several countries across these regions. In close collaboration with the Tamil Nadu government, VinFast is working to transform the area into the EV capital of South Asia.”

Ministers Geetha Jeevan and Anitha Radhakrishnan, Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi and Chief Secretary N. Muruganandham were among those present at the event.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin with VinFast Asia CEO Pham Sanh Chau and the staff at the newly-inaugurated EV manufacturing plant in Thoothukudi on August 4, 2025
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement