VinFast partners with automotive companies
- October 2, 2018
- Posted by: Simon Wait
- Category: Industry News
VinFast is partnering with automotive companies to design, engineer and manufacture its first two cars – a sedan and a SUV.
VinFast is spearheading the development of Vietnam’s automotive industry to contribute to the transformation of the country’s economic and industrial capability and, ultimately, to help improve the lives of the Vietnamese people.
VinFast gave the people of Vietnam the opportunity to determine the styling direction at the start of the design process through a unique public vote. Starting with Italdesign’s styling concepts, the cars’ designs have since been developed and completed by the Pininfarina design team.
VinFast and its vehicle engineering partners are developing the cars in half the usual period taken to develop a new car. To ensure the ambitious programme timing could be achieved without compromising quality, VinFast chose the leading experts in their fields.
Over 400 engineers from Magna Steyr are developing a new platform for each of VinFast’s inaugural models. The Austrian consultancy is responsible for integrating newly-developed vehicle systems, latest-generation ECU technologies from Bosch, and a new electric and electronics architecture.
An extensive engine development programme has been conducted by AVL of Austria, incorporating licensed patents and know-how. The result is a turbocharged 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder gasoline engine that meets local requirements.
VinFast’s all-new 335-hectare production complex is nearing completion on a site partially reclaimed from the sea near the major port city of Hai Phong in northern Vietnam.
The plant will embrace Industry 4.0 systems, with data collection and management systems, interconnected sensors and cloud servers supplied by Siemens and SAP.
Further partnerships are being progressed, in particular with a view to supporting suppliers to locate facilities at the production supplier park. This space will enable VinFast to support the ongoing development of the automotive supply chain in Vietnam and increase the locally-supplied content to its factory. Several major global tier one suppliers have already committed to the supplier park, including Germany’s ZF Group, Lear Corporation of the USA, and Thailand’s AAPICO.
Beyond partnerships in technology and production processes, VinFast is also partnering with Eckhert Schulen to train 200 apprentices each year at a purpose-built onsite training centre. With courses in industrial mechanics and mechatronics delivered to German standards, graduates will receive a certificate issued by the German chamber of commerce and industry.
