Vinfast Reconsiders Nickel Battery Usage for Indonesian Factory

Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast is set to assemble electric vehicles (EVs) using the completely knocked down (CKD) scheme after constructing its first electric car plant in Indonesia. VinFast is committed to investing US$1.2 billion for the long term. Tran Quoc Huy, CEO of VinFast Indonesia, stated that to kickstart this commitment, they have started selling pre-built Completely Build Up (CBU) vehicles to expedite market entry. "The transition from CBU to CKD will begin once our factory is operational," he said on Feb 22.

Tran emphasized Indonesia's crucial role in VinFast's market expansion strategy, highlighting Indonesia's pivotal position in the global EV supply chain. According to Tran, Indonesia's automotive manufacturing industry is rapidly growing with a well-developed supplier network, allowing it to target optimal production by leveraging local raw materials. "We maintain a flexible approach. Lithium Ferro-Phosphate [LFP] and Indonesian nickel are potential choices," he added. However, their usage will depend on sustainability, performance, and alignment with local government regulations and VinFast's internal protocols.