In a Monday message to employees, Thaco chairman Tran Ba Duong said Thaco Auto will introduce a Thaco-branded minibus in June 2026, followed by passenger cars, vehicles with fewer than nine seats, in 2027.

If realized, the plan would mark a strategic shift for Thaco, which has long been one of Vietnam’s largest assemblers and distributors of passenger and commercial vehicles but has relied primarily on foreign brands for its passenger car portfolio.

Thaco currently assembles and distributes models from Mazda, Kia, Peugeot, BMW, and MINI, and is set to add U.S. brands Jeep and RAM to its lineup this year. However, product pipelines remain heavily dependent on overseas partners, with some BMW models, all MINI vehicles, and BMW Motorrad motorcycles imported.

Industry analysts say launching an in-house brand could help Thaco stabilize factory utilization and capture greater value across the supply chain.

Vietnam’s auto market continues to show growth potential, supported by rising car ownership and income levels. Total vehicle sales in 2025 reached 604,134 units, up 22.2% from a year earlier.

Thaco operates a major automotive complex in the Chu Lai Industrial Zone in the central province of Quang Ngai. The facility spans more than 489,000 square meters with designed annual capacity of around 120,000 vehicles – the third largest nationwide after plants operated by Vingroup’s EV arm VinFast and Hyundai. The group also runs 19 mechanical engineering and auto parts factories supporting domestic assembly and exports.

Automobile assembly and distribution remains Thaco’s largest revenue driver, ahead of its interests in real estate, agriculture, logistics, and supporting industries. Thaco Auto is forecast to generate revenue of about VND65.5 trillion ($2.51 billion) in 2026 and $30.5 million in export value.