VinFast EV plant delayed further in Chatham County

Reuters reports “a person briefed on the matter” said the delay comes as the Vietnamese electric vehicle maker struggles to gain interest with U.S. customers.

VinFast has said it plans to invest $4 billion in the Chatham County factory, which will have the capacity to produce up to 150,000 electric vehicles each year in the first phase of the project.

The factory, which officials said could bring 7,500 jobs to the area, was originally expected to open in late 2025, but Chatham County said no construction is being done until a new permit is issued.

In April, WRAL News reported VinFast is scaling down the size of its manufacturing plant in Moncure to 782,255 square feet, a 20% reduction from the original plans for a 995,500-square-foot building.

VinFast’s presence is growing across the country, with 12 new VinFast dealership stores anticipated to begin opening this summer in states including New York, Texas, Florida, Kansas, Connecticut and Kentucky.

California, the state with the highest EV adoption rate in the U.S., already has 15 operational VinFast stores and service centers.