Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer VinFast officially launched its first factory in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, India, marking a significant milestone in the country’s clean mobility landscape. The inauguration was led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who called the development a major step in strengthening the state’s position as a leading global manufacturing destination.

Mega Plant Built in Record Time

The state-of-the-art facility, located on a sprawling 408-acre site within the SIPCOT Industrial Complex at Sillanatham in Thoothukudi district, was completed in just 17 months from the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). CM Stalin highlighted this as a clear reflection of the ease of doing business in Tamil Nadu.

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The plant is part of a massive ₹16,000 crore investment agreement signed between VinFast and the Tamil Nadu government during the Global Investors Meet last year. In its initial phase, the plant will have the capacity to produce 50,000 electric vehicles annually, with the ability to scale up to 150,000 units to meet growing demand.

Driving Jobs & Regional Growth

Over the next five years, the facility is expected to generate more than 3,500 employment opportunities. CM Stalin also pointed out that VinFast has already provided jobs to hundreds of local youth under the state’s flagship ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ skill development initiative. The Chief Minister praised the company’s role in accelerating economic growth in Thoothukudi and surrounding southern districts, stating that the ripple effect of such investments would extend far beyond the plant’s immediate geography.

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TN’s EV Dominance

Reaffirming Tamil Nadu’s leadership in the electric vehicle sector, Stalin proudly declared, “Chennai is India’s Detroit.” He noted that an impressive 40 percent of all EVs sold across India are manufactured in the state, underscoring Tamil Nadu's robust industrial base and favourable business ecosystem.

Call for Further Investments

Highlighting the diversified interests of VinFast’s parent conglomerate, Vingroup—which spans education, healthcare, and technology—CM Stalin extended an open invitation for the group to consider additional long-term investments in Tamil Nadu. He assured the full support of the state government in facilitating future expansions. With this major manufacturing foothold, VinFast’s entry signals a new chapter in India’s EV journey while reinforcing Tamil Nadu’s ambitions of becoming the nation’s green mobility capital.