Chinese automaker Chery plans to build its largest production facility in the ASEAN region in Hung Yen Province, northern Vietnam, with operations targeted for mid-2026. The project involves investment of up to USD 800 million, aimed at creating a localized hub for left-hand-drive vehicles and supporting future export expansion.

The plant will follow a phased development plan. Initial annual capacity is expected to range from 30,000 to 60,000 units, with the company targeting 200,000 vehicles once the facility reaches full scale. Chery expects the site to serve Vietnam and other left-hand-drive markets and may eventually export to Europe.

Chery currently imports all vehicles sold in Vietnam. Although it operates production facilities for right-hand-drive vehicles in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, the Vietnam factory will be its first left-hand-drive base in Southeast Asia. The automaker is targeting leadership among Chinese brands in Vietnam by 2026 and a top-three position in the overall market by 2030. VinFast is the current market leader, followed by Toyota, with the two brands accounting for a significant portion of Vietnam’s annual sales.

The company’s expansion will be anchored by a 2026 product cycle that introduces 16 new Omoda and Jaecoo models in Vietnam. The strategy covers internal combustion, hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, with annual sales targets set at no less than 10,000 units. Chery selected Omoda and Jaecoo for Vietnam based on their performance in Europe and their positioning in design and technology.

Pricing for Omoda and Jaecoo models in Vietnam ranges from 729 million to 879 million VND (approximately USD 27,700 to USD 33,300). This places the brands slightly above some VinFast models while remaining below higher-priced Toyota offerings. Toyota’s lineup spans 405 million to 4.6 billion VND, while VinFast passenger cars range from 302 million to 1.7 billion VND.

Omoda and Jaecoo vehicles marketed in Vietnam offer up to 1,500 km (932 miles) of claimed driving range, high safety standards and warranty coverage up to 1 million km. Chery aims to use these attributes to increase consumer trust in Chinese brands, a priority for the company in Vietnam’s competitive landscape.

Chery plans to expand its dealer network from 40 to 75 locations in 2026. The company will partner with Geleximco to deploy charging stations across residential areas, commercial buildings, hotels and golf courses. It also intends to work with additional charging-station operators and automakers to expand public access to charging infrastructure.

Geleximco is active in industrial production, real estate, banking and hospitality, and previously collaborated with Honda in motorcycle component manufacturing. According to Omoda & Jaecoo Vietnam’s leadership, the planned charging network will be open to all brands rather than restricted to in-house vehicles.

Vietnam’s most extensive charging network is currently operated by VinFast, though its chargers are exclusive to VinFast vehicles. Other manufacturers, including Chinese brands, have yet to confirm whether they will open their networks to third-party users. Vietnam’s government has favored foreign investment projects that expand the domestic supply chain and create long-term employment.

Chery expects the new plant to gradually increase the proportion of locally sourced components. The company sees the assembly facility as a key step toward reducing production costs and building stronger relationships with local suppliers.

As the company accelerates investment ahead of 2026 model launches, Chery’s expansion in Vietnam may influence competitive dynamics in a market long shaped by domestic and Japanese brands.