Hanoi (VNA) – Chinese electric two-wheeler manufacturer YADEA has chosen Vietnam as a key production hub in Southeast Asia, with its newly inaugurated 100-million-USD smart electric motorbike plant in the northern province of Bac Ninh expected to support Vietnam's demand and exports to regional countries.
In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency, Liu Jia, General Director of YADEA Vietnam, said the factory is a key component of YADEA’s global strategy, designed to primarily serve the Vietnamese market in the initial stage, while gradually expanding its capacity to support exports to neighbouring Southeast Asian countries.
Through local production, the company aims to enhance supply chain responsiveness, better meet the needs of Vietnamese consumers, and contribute to the electrification of transport in the country. With Vietnam’s strategic location, the plant is also expected to expand its reach to neighbouring markets, reflecting YADEA’s long-term commitment to growing alongside Vietnam.
The first phase of the project involves an investment of 100 million USD, with a designed capacity of one million vehicles per year and the potential to reach two million units annually at full capacity. Liu said YADEA is pursuing a long-term development strategy, prioritising strategic value and market expansion rather than short-term profit.
In the short term, the company will focus on upgrading production systems and expanding its service network. Over the longer term, it expects to achieve economies of scale through increased market share, which would generate stable profits while also creating jobs and strengthening the local supply chain.
Liu said Vietnam is currently one of the world’s largest two-wheeler markets, with nearly one motorbike for every two people. He noted that the country’s transition toward electric mobility is becoming increasingly evident, especially as major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City consider policies to limit gasoline-powered motorcycles and encourage electric alternatives.
Against that backdrop, YADEA expects the electric motorbike segment in Vietnam to grow rapidly over the next three to five years, potentially doubling annually. The company aims to capture around 20% of the domestic electric motorbike market in the coming years.
Liu also highlighted the importance of localisation in the company’s supply chain strategy. Increasing the share of locally sourced components not only helps reduce production costs but also improves supply chain resilience and enhances the capabilities of Vietnamese suppliers. He said that YADEA plans to strengthen cooperation between Vietnamese suppliers and experienced international partners within its global supply network, creating opportunities for knowledge sharing and contributing to the development of a stronger industrial ecosystem in Vietnam.
As competition intensifies in the electric vehicle market, Liu said YADEA’s long-term competitiveness will be built around a user-centric strategy based on three main pillars - technology and expertise, distribution expansion and service improvement.
The firm has more than 25 years of experience in electric two-wheelers and has remained the world’s largest electric two-wheeler manufacturer for nine consecutive years in terms of sales. It is also among the few companies in the industry capable of independently developing and producing three core electric vehicle systems – motors, batteries and controllers.
In the coming years, YADEA plans to introduce new products with longer driving ranges, enhanced smart connectivity, and fast-charging and flexible battery-swapping solutions. At the same time, the company aims to expand its distribution network nationwide, targeting coverage at the district level across Vietnam by 2026 through stronger cooperation with local dealers.
Service capability is also expected to improve, with YADEA planning to upgrade its after-sales network and launch a customer service platform on the Zalo messaging application. The system will enable stores to receive service requests via GPS location and provide roadside assistance more quickly, helping integrate sales and after-sales services.
As YADEA’s core manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia, the plant will primarily serve the Vietnamese market in the near term while gradually expanding to support exports to neighbouring countries, Liu said. YADEA views Vietnam not only as a high-growth market but also as a strategic hub for its manufacturing network, supply chain and market development across Southeast Asia, he added./.
