KIM LONG MOTOR: GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR BATTERY MANUFACTURING PLANT – A STRATEGIC STEP IN THE JOURNEY TOWARD MASTERING ELECTRIC VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

The event was attended by current and former central government leaders; representatives of departments and agencies of Hue City; leaders of BYD Battery Group; along with domestic and international partners and customers, as well as central and local media organizations. Under the cooperation agreement, KIM LONG MOTOR will invest in the construction of a new energy battery manufacturing plant in Vietnam, while BYD will provide technology, technical support, and production lines. This strategic move lays the foundation for the company to gradually master battery technology and proactively secure the supply of core components for electric vehicle models researched, developed, and manufactured by KIM LONG MOTOR.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Liu Siyuan – Chief Operating Officer (COO) of BYD Battery Business Group and Vice President of Business Unit No. 2 – stated: “We are very pleased to partner with KIM LONG MOTOR on the commercial vehicle battery manufacturing project in Vietnam. This cooperation not only meets the rapidly growing demand for batteries and energy solutions in the Vietnamese market, but also aims to expand supply across the region. We believe that the combination of BYD Battery’s technological capabilities with KIM LONG MOTOR’s manufacturing experience and ecosystem will create sustainable value, making a positive contribution to the development of green transportation and the clean energy industry in the future.”

The commercial vehicle battery manufacturing plant is being constructed at the KIM LONG MOTOR Hue automobile manufacturing and assembly industrial complex. The plant’s products include battery lines for trucks, buses, minivans, minibuses, and other commercial vehicles, meeting the rapidly growing demand of the Vietnamese market while also targeting exports to regional markets. The batteries will be manufactured in accordance with advanced technological standards and will directly serve commercial vehicle models researched, developed, and produced by KIM LONG MOTOR under the “Made in Vietnam” brand.

Notably, for the first time in the world, KIM LONG MOTOR is pioneering the research, development, and production of a 34-bed electric sleeper bus (EV), incorporating advanced BYD battery technology. This model is the first interprovincial sleeper bus powered by new energy to be developed for the Vietnamese and Southeast Asian markets, marking a significant step forward in technological mastery and creating strong momentum for the development of green and sustainable transportation. The dedicated commercial vehicle battery plant has a total investment of USD 130 million across two phases. In Phase 1, the plant will be built on a covered factory area of 4.4 hectares, with the orientation to become one of the leading electric vehicle battery manufacturing facilities in terms of capacity—3 GWh per year—and advanced technology, not only in Vietnam but also across Asia. The plant is expected to commence operations soon, playing a crucial role in enhancing production capacity and ensuring a proactive battery supply for KIM LONG MOTOR. In the subsequent phase, the project will be expanded with additional investment to develop battery lines for passenger cars, increasing the covered factory area to 10 hectares and raising the total capacity in Phase 2 to 6 GWh per year.

With a high level of automation and a modern quality management system, the plant not only effectively meets domestic demand but also targets expansion into export markets across Southeast Asia and South Korea, gradually affirming the manufacturing capabilities, technological expertise, and the position of a Vietnamese brand on the regional new energy industry map.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Dao Viet Anh – Co-Chief Executive Officer in charge of Business, Administration, and External Affairs of KIM LONG MOTOR – emphasized:“KIM LONG MOTOR views the development of electric vehicles not merely as an inevitable trend, but as a long-term strategy closely aligned with the self-reliance of the national industrial base. The strategic partnership with BYD Battery and the investment in building an electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant demonstrate our strong commitment to mastering core technologies, rather than limiting ourselves to assembly or contract manufacturing. The development of green industry is not only a social responsibility, but also a sustainable competitive advantage for enterprises in the era of the green economy.”

This is not merely an investment project, but a strategic milestone that demonstrates KIM LONG MOTOR’s determination to engage deeply and substantively in the global value chain of the battery and new energy vehicle industries. Once operational, the plant will help the company realize its goal of achieving a localization rate of over 80% by the second quarter of 2026, while gradually forming a regional-scale manufacturing hub for batteries and electric vehicles.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Phan Quy Phuong – Member of the Standing Committee of the Hue City Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Hue City People’s Committee – highly appreciated the significance of the Battery Manufacturing Plant Project, emphasizing that it represents an important milestone not only for KIM LONG MOTOR but also for Vietnam’s automotive industry, particularly in mastering key technologies and developing high-tech industries. He affirmed that the project holds practical significance in implementing the Resolution of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, demonstrating a spirit of strategic self-reliance while concretizing the Politburo’s resolutions on key and strategic sectors. Notable examples include Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation, and national digital transformation; Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW on international integration in the new context; Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW on private sector economic development; and Resolution No. 70-NQ/TW on ensuring national energy security through 2030, with a vision to 2045. Through these efforts, the project makes a practical and sustainable contribution to the socio-economic development of the locality.

The project is expected to serve as a new driver of development, positioning Vietnam as a leading regional and global hub for battery and electric vehicle manufacturing. It will make a substantive contribution to promoting green transportation and fulfilling Vietnam’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, while enhancing the country’s standing on the regional and global clean energy industry map. In doing so, the project supports rapid and sustainable development, enabling Vietnam to move forward confidently in the “New Era – the era of the nation’s rise.”