VinFast expands EVs to Indonesia with thumbs up from Jokowi

Vietnamese carmaker's factory, ride-hail plans offer ASEAN foothold

20240116 vinfast joko

Indonesia's Joko Widodo toured VinFast's factory in Hai Phong, as the EV producer prepares to expand beyond Vietnam and sell cars all over Southeast Asia. (Vingroup)

LIEN HOANG, Nikkei staff writer

HO CHI MINH CITY -- Indonesia's president slipped into a white VinFast on the weekend, giving the Vietnamese electric vehicle producer its boldest stamp of approval yet to expand to Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's state visit to Vietnam included a factory tour with VinFast CEO Pham Nhat Vuong, who is pushing into Indonesia with manufacturing, ride-hailing and taxis. Analysts say the move complements nickel-rich Indonesia's own EV roadmap, while offering a possible toehold for the Nasdaq-listed carmaker's broader retail play across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.