ZF has inaugurated its first plant in Vietnam, built specifically for a new Vietnamese customer in Hai Phong, in accordance with the company’s ‘local-for-local’ strategy. The Euro 25 million production site, located in a 70-hectare supplier park, will produce chassis modules just-in-time for Vinfast, which was founded in 2017 as the first Vietnamese automotive manufacturer, and 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, a member of ZF’s board of management, at the inauguration ceremony. “We are proud to embark on this journey together with Vinfast right here in Hai Phong.”
The 44.000 sq.m. Hai Phong plant is situated next to Vinfast’s facility, and is designed and equipped to produce chassis module sets just-in-time at a rate of 38 jobs per hour. Series production started at the end of July – only a little over a year after establishing the customer relationship.
“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 customers’ operations at every place on earth is a must for just-in-time deliveries, and a clear core competence of our business”, said Dr Peter Holdmann, head of ZF’s chassis technology division.
