In Hanoi, on a recent weekday morning, the BYD showroom was quiet, with no customers present. Just a few kilometers away, the VinFast Auto dealership was bustling with potential buyers examining its new models. Tran Trung Hieu, a VinFast salesman, noted, “We typically see around 20 customers each weekday. That number can easily double or triple on weekends.”
BYD’s move into Vietnam in July highlights the opportunities and complex issues confronting Chinese companies seeking to expand into Southeast Asia, a region with a youthful population eager to embrace electric and hybrid vehicles.
