Vietnamese Car Maker VinFast Meets with Eric and Cars & Coffee¶

Source: https://www.wte.net/Blog/July-2023/Vietnamese-Car-Maker-VinFast-Meets-with-Eric-and-Cars-Coffee
Date: July 2023
Author: Eric Garrison

Bringing Vietnam to North Carolina¶

Harrison Wicker (Cars and Coffee Morrisville partner and Raleigh attorney) and the author recently met with VinFast representatives: Sean Ackley (Head of Charging & Energy, Americas) and Van Anh Nguyen (CEO at VinFast USA).

VinFast is a subsidiary of Vingroup, described as one of Asia's largest private sector companies. Founded by Pham Nhat Vuong (Vietnam's first billionaire), the company represents innovation and ambition. Despite being established only in 2017, VinFast now manufactures electric sedans and scooters from its Hai Phong, Vietnam facility.

The company's vision extends to North Carolina. Their flagship VF8 model debuted at a Cars & Coffee event in Morrisville, featuring a 15" infotainment system.

Hai Phong: The Intersection of Tradition and Innovation¶

The article explores Hai Phong as VinFast's origin point, describing it through several themes:

Gateway of Possibilities: The port city connects global commerce and opportunity
Canvas of History: Streets reflect historical significance and resilience
Nature's Masterpiece: Proximity to Halong Bay inspires innovative design
Urban Beat: Markets and energy characterize city life
Taste of Tradition: Local cuisine preserves cultural heritage

Newsworthy Coverage¶

WUNC: Reported North Carolina's first car manufacturing plant announcement, highlighting a $4 billion investment across 1,900 acres at Triangle's Innovation Point in Moncure, Chatham County.

Tech Crunch: Noted VinFast's U.S. headquarters plans in Los Angeles and 60+ sales locations targeted for 2022, with factory operations beginning mid-2024.

The Detroit News: Featured Van Anh Nguyen stating: "Since Day One, we had a global strategy" and emphasized the company's commitment to becoming fully electric globally.