Bus plant ready for ASEAN zero tax

In conjunction with the Republic of Korea’s Hyundai Motors, it will make 20,000 buses and minibuses a year from 2018, mostly for export to ASEAN countries.

Deputy Director of Thaco Pham Van Tai said the 17ha plant, which was built at a cost of VND7 trillion (US$310 million), would supply high-quality vehicles. He said the new plant, built using 60% Vietnamese-made components, would produce engines meeting Euro 4 Emission Standards.

"We have increased the localisation ratio to produce good quality and competitively priced vehicles to take advantage of the zero tax being introduced throughout the ASEAN region next year,” Tai said.

He said the company had developed a supporting industry zone with 24 plants producing spare parts and accessories for local use and export.

Thaco has also built a research and development centre at the new bus plant as well as an automatic welding line and power coating for painting vehicles.

In 2010, Thaco invested US$44 million in building the first plant to make 45-seat buses with a capacity of 5,000 vehicles per year.