Ground broken for massive automotive engine plant

Delegates start the construction of the US$260 million automotive engine manufacturing plant at the Chân Mây – Lăng Cô Economic Zone in Thừa Thiên – Huê province on August 23. VNS Photo

Construction started on a US$260 million automotive engine manufacturing plant at the Chân Mây – Lăng Cô Economic Zone in Thừa Thiên – Huê province on August 23 by Kim Long Motor Hue and China’s Yuchai Corporation.

The facility, named Kim Long Hue Engine Manufacturing Plant, is part of the Kim Long Motor Hue Automobile Manufacturing and Assembly Industrial Park.

The project is divided into two phases. Phase 1 focuses on producing automotive engines, with operations expected to begin in early Q2 next year. The plant will manufacture a diverse range of engines for automobiles, marine applications, generators, farming machinery, and construction equipment.

Initially, the plant will prioritise the production of internal combustion engines (Diesel), CNG engines, and electric engines, with a capacity of over 12,000 units annually, while plans are in place to increase capacity in the following years. The subsequent phase will involve manufacturing axles, gearboxes, and automotive drive trains.

The engines produced at this facility will not only supply Kim Long Motor’s domestic market needs but also be exported to ASEAN countries, the Republic of Korea, and other markets. This project is a crucial step for Kim Long Motor to enhance its technological capabilities, increase the localisation rate of its products, and integrate more deeply into the global supply chain.

Lý Quốc Việt, Executive Vice President of Kim Long Motor, highlighted that the plant is the “heart” of the company’s strategy to develop a Vietnamese automotive brand, aiming to lead the commercial vehicle market in Việt Nam and expand into international ones. The collaboration with Yuchai Corporation is expected to provide optimal engine solutions in terms of safety and fuel efficiency.

In conjunction with the groundbreaking ceremony, Kim Long Motor also launched the new KIMLONG 99 sleeper bus, featuring the latest Yuchai K11 engine. Additionally, the company delivered the first batch of 60 KIMLONG 99 sleeper buses, part of a 600-bus contract for 2024.

The Kim Long Motor Hue complex is a comprehensive manufacturing facility producing buses, trucks, cars, and automotive parts, with an expected capacity of 108,800 vehicles per year. To date, the company has completed the first phase of the project, including a bus manufacturing and assembly plant.

Since February 2024, Kim Long Motor Hue has produced nearly 300 vehicles, including sleeper buses, seated buses, city buses, and mini-buses, delivering over 200 sleeper buses to customers and creating jobs for approximately 1,800 workers. – VNS