The BMW Group has announced that it will partner with the Truong Hai Auto Corporation (THACO) to locally produce BMW vehicles in Vietnam.

The arrangement will extend BMW’s production network for vehicles in Asia, which now includes BMW plants in India and Thailand, joint venture plants in China, and partner plants in Malaysia, Indonesia, and now Vietnam.

“This is a major milestone for the BMW Group in Asia-Pacific as we look to strengthen our geographic footprint in the region,” said Mr. Michael Nikolaides, Senior Vice President, BMW Group Production Network, Supply Chain Management. “With this decision, the BMW Group once again is applying its strategic principle of production follows the market.” The BMW Group strives for balanced growth in all markets and continents. Fast-growing emerging economies play a central role here.

According to Mr. Lars Nielsen, Managing Director of BMW Group Asia, it has been nearly five years since it relaunched the BMW brand in Vietnam and brought THACO on board as the official importer of BMW vehicles in the market. “We have cultivated a strong relationship with the THACO team during this time, and their experience and commitment to growing the brand is evident,” he said.

Moreover, there is long-term growth potential in Vietnam, and it is excited to take this next step with THACO to locally-produce some of its most popular models, including the BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series, BMW X3, and BMW X5. “We are also eager to bring our customers in Vietnam the very best of BMW, proudly produced in the heart of the country,” Mr. Nielsen said.

“THACO has more than 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, manufacturing and trading everything from passenger cars to trucks for THACO and a variety of global brands,” said Mr. Tran Ba Duong, THACO Chairman. “We are excited and honored to have the opportunity to now include BMW vehicles as part of our manufacturing business in Chu Lai, Quang Nam province, and are committed to providing high-quality vehicles that BMW customers expect from the brand.”

The BMW Group’s production network totals over 30 locations all over the world. These comprise BMW Group plants as well as vehicle plants and a powertrain plant of the joint venture BMW Brilliance Automotive in China.

There are also partner plants and contract manufacturing. Standardized processes and structures across the production network ensure consistent premium quality and allow a high degree of customization of BMW Group products. The same quality, safety, and sustainability standards apply at all plants throughout the BMW Group production network worldwide. Sustainability is one of the key aspects in the Group’s production.

BMW Group Asia started operations in 1985 and has a regional office in Singapore overseeing 14 markets in East Asia for both the BMW and MINI brands. Markets include Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Tahiti, Guam, New Caledonia, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. It plays the role of a business incubator for importer markets and introduces product and technology that best caters to customer needs in this part of the world.