After Tesla’s desi debut, Vietnamese EV maker VinFast opens first showroom in India

Vietnamese EV manufacturer VinFast has opened its first showroom in India, located in Surat, Gujarat, ahead of the launch of its upcoming manufacturing plant, days after Tesla made its desi debut.

Located in Piplod in Surat and spread out on 3,000 Sq.Ft. the facility will offer product experiences, vehicle purchase journeys, and after-sales support. The Showroom will showcase VinFast’s upcoming range of premium electric SUVs – VF 6 and VF 7.

India is also the first market where VinFast is launching the right-hand drive version of the VF 7 and VF 6. As part of its ambitious roadmap, the company aims to launch 35 dealerships by year-end, across 27 plus cities, the company said in a statement.

VinFast officially opened pre-bookings for its premium electric SUVs, the VF 6 and VF 7 on July 15, 2025.

Customers can now book their preferred VinFast premium electric SUV either at the exclusive showrooms or through the official website, VinFastAuto.in, with a fully refundable booking amount of Rs 21,000.

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The vehicles will be locally assembled at VinFast’s upcoming factory in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to India as a strategic market and future hub for electric vehicle production.Pham Sanh Chau, CEO, VinFast Asia, said, “The first VinFast Showroom in Surat, Gujarat is a symbol of our deep commitment to India. We are excited to bring the VinFast experience closer to Indian consumers. With this dealership in Gujarat, we aim to offer not just electric vehicles, but a complete ownership journey built on quality, trust, and service excellence.”VinFast has entered the Indian market at a time when both local and global players are already establishing their presence, yet significant opportunities remain in this rapidly growing sector.

Desi EV market

India’s EV market is rapidly growing, with electric passenger vehicle sales rising from just 5,000 units in 2020 to over 113,000 in 2024.

While EVs currently make up less than 3% of total car sales, the central government’s ambitious goal to increase this share to 30% by 2030 underscores the sector’s tremendous potential.

The latest player, VinFast, a small and unprofitable EV maker, briefly became the world’s third most valuable automaker in 2023, behind Tesla and Toyota, after its Nasdaq debut sent shares soaring nearly 700%. Now, the company plans to open a car assembly plant in India by the end of June.

Formed in 2017, VinFast began making EVs in 2021. It is backed by Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest conglomerate. VinFast in January last year signed an agreement with Tamil Nadu to invest as much as $2 billion in the country. Work on the plant started soon after, with an initial investment of $500 million.

The loss-making startup had initially planned to focus on America for its foreign sales, but slow progress in the United States, even before growing uncertainty caused by U.S. tariffs, pushed the company to change strategy. VinFast’s entry in itself may not be a significant challenge for Tesla in India, but it points at a crowded EV space, which might make it hard for Tesla to cruise into the Indian market.

Tesla’s debut

For VinFast, the real challenge begins with rivals like Tesla, which has already made its India debut. Tesla opened its first showroom in Mumbai’s upscale Bandra Kurla Complex on July 15. The 4,000-square-foot space will showcase Model Y crossovers imported from China, priced at over $56,000 before taxes—roughly $10,000 more than the U.S. base price, according to Bloomberg.

A second showroom is expected to open in New Delhi by the end of July, and Tesla has beefed up local hiring and secured warehousing space. But with no plans to set up a manufacturing plant in the world’s third-largest automobile market, Tesla’s entry into India is less about racking up immediate sales volume gains and more about gaging demand for its EVs and building up the brand’s image.

Musk’s company has flirted with the idea of establishing a local manufacturing base — something the Indian government has courted and that could sidestep heavy import tariffs — but so far Tesla hasn’t committed to doing so.

VinFast Asia CEO Pham Sanh Chau has said the company doesn’t view Tesla or BYD as direct competitors. Still, India’s complex market dynamics—shaped by established Indian incumbents, pricing sensitivities, and evolving consumer preferences—present their own set of hurdles. As the EV race picks up pace, only time will reveal how VinFast navigates these challenges and where it ultimately stands.

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