Vietnam’s Thai Hung and Germany’s Roding Mobility ink EV development deal

In a stride forward for the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) market in Vietnam, Thai Hung, a Vietnam's EV company, inked a partnership agreement with Germany's Roding Mobility.

The deal, made public at the Thai Binh – Germany Investment and Development Cooperation Seminar on June 28, signifies a commitment from both entities to collaborate on research, development, and manufacturing of electric and compact EVs in Vietnam.

Thai Hung has established its reputation within the Vietnamese EV community by becoming the pioneering firm to import China's best-selling mini-EV, the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, to Vietnam back in 2022. Roding, despite being relatively lesser-known, boasts an impressive legacy.

Roding was conceived in 2008 by Günther Riedl and Ferdinand Heindlmeier, a duo of passionate car enthusiasts and bright engineers from Munich University of Technology. The company's original mission was to create lightweight sports cars designed to mitigate carbon emissions and facilitate mass production. Through the continuous reinvention, Riedl and Heindlmeier have given the Roding brand a unique signature in the automotive market.

Roding Mobility has been instrumental in providing platform chassis for electric cars of many startup companies and large corporations, including BMW.

Roding is distinguished by its capacity to carry out diverse projects in a swift timeframe, ranging from street vehicles to ambitious Formula 1 race cars. Additionally, the German firm supplies contemporary, energy-efficient high-voltage transmission systems and battery storage solutions to EV manufacturers and various entities venturing into EV projects.

Beyond that, Roding has tapped into innovative technologies, including 3D printing of metal and plastic components, augmenting conventional manufacturing processes, which are integral to the delivery of complete vehicle projects.

In addition, Roding extends its expertise to aircraft structural solutions and propulsion systems, as well as diverse marine applications. This multifaceted approach reflects the company's broader vision, tying in well with the objectives of the partnership with Thai Hung.

Roding's CEO, Franz Ferdinand Heindlmeier, emphasised the company's high hopes for Vietnam's small EV sector, expressing the importance of collaboration and strategic investment to tap into the nation's potential.

As part of the newly announced agreement, Roding will lend its technical expertise, overseeing all stages of the product development cycle, including design, standard compliance, supply evaluation, and production techniques.

Thai Hung, with the transferred expertise, is slated to commercially produce and distribute small EV models in Vietnam, extending to foreign markets in the longer term.

The partnership is set to commence with a focus on urban EV production, compliant with Europe's L7e standard, anticipating a production of 6,000 cars within the first three years.

Following this, both entities have plans to collectively roll out two Segment A electric car models by 2024.

The collaboration has been met with enthusiasm from local officials. Nguyen Khac Than, Chairman of Thai Binh People's Committee, said the agreement was a promising signal for the northern province's investment climate.

Installing a network of extensive and easy-charging stations could ignite Vietnam’s plan for producing electric automobiles in a short amount of time, with both authorities and business collaboration required to fulfil the ambition.

Czech Ambassador Hynek Kmonicek talks to Viet Nam News prior to the visit of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, to Vietnam from April 20-22.