Recently ZF opened its first plant in Vietnam: In accordance with its local-for-local strategy, the company established a production site for a new Vietnamese customer in Hai Phong. The facility, located in Vinfast’s 70-ha Supplier Park of Vinfast Manufacturing Automobile and E-scooter Plant on the Cat Hai Island off the country’s northern shore, produces chassis modules just-in-time for a local automotive manufacturer. ZF has invested more than €25 million in the site.
The Vietnamese car industry is one of the fastest growing in Southeast Asia. With its Hai Phong site, ZF takes its first local step into this market, following the demand of an exciting new customer: Vinfast, founded in 2017 as the first Vietnamese automotive manufacturer, relies on ZF as one of its main chassis technology suppliers. “This cooperation offers ZF the unique opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new market”, said Michael Hankel, Member of the ZF Board of Management at the inauguration ceremony. “We are proud to embark on this journey together with Vinfast right here in Hai Phong.”
The Hai Phong plant exemplifies ZF’s local-for-local strategy. On an approx. 44,000 m2 area right next to the customer’s facility, the plant is designed and equipped to produce chassis module sets just-in-time at a rate of 38 jobs per hour. Series production already started at the end of July – only a little over a year after establishing the customer relationship. ZF invested about €25 million in its first Vietnamese production site.
“With the plant in Hai Phong we add another highly efficient chassis module assembly plant to our global business network. This underlines the market leadership we have reached for chassis just-in-time deliveries globally. The ability to set up assembly plants in very close proximity to our customer’s operations at every place on earth is a must for just-in-time deliveries and clear core competence of our business,” said Dr. Peter Holdmann, Head of ZF’s Chassis Technology Division.
James DeLuca, VinGroup Deputy CEO, responsible for Vinast Global Business Development stated at the ceremony: “Vinfast highly appreciates the fact that ZF – one of the world’s leading partners – locates the factory on the premises of Vinfast Automobile Manufacturing Complex. ZF’s newly opened factory is an important link in the Vinfast production value chain, helping to ensure the supply of components and increase the localization rate for Vinfast products.”
