Vietnam’s auto imports from China soar in March

The Southeast Asian country imported 4,473 cars from China, surging 54 percent month on month, according to statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Vietnam imported a total of 21,640 completely built-up (CBU) cars worth US$445 million in March, an increase of 22.5 percent compared to the previous month.

Most of the imported vehicles, including cars under nine seats, trucks, and specialized vehicles, originated from three main markets: China, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Besides China, Vietnam bought 8,841 vehicles from Indonesia and 7,731 units from Thailand, up 28.4 and 15 percent, respectively.

Imports from these three markets accounted for 97 percent of Vietnam’s total automobile imports last month.

In the first quarter of 2025, Vietnam imported nearly 46,500 cars, up more than 44 percent compared to the same period last year.

Of these, there were over 36,000 vehicles under nine seats and around 5,300 trucks.

Various Chinese vehicles of different brands, such as Zotye, BAIC, and Beijing, have been introduced in a 60,000-member Facebook group including enthusiasts of Chinese cars.

The group also discusses commonly used Chinese truck brands in Vietnam, including JAC, HOWO, Dongfeng, and Chenglong.

Automotive expert Nguyen Minh Dong noted that the primary appeal of Chinese vehicles to Vietnamese consumers remains their low cost.

He also pointed out that the influx of Chinese cars is not solely driven by consumer demand in Vietnam. A surplus in China’s car production has led manufacturers to increase exports, including to Vietnam.

In March, only two vehicles with more than nine seats each were imported into Vietnam, even as many large Chinese car brands continue expanding their presence in the country.

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported that China’s vehicle exports continue to grow steadily. Exports of new energy vehicles in the first quarter of 2025 surged 43.9 percent year on year, reaching 441,000 units.

Vietnamese companies increase imports of Chinese auto parts

Vietnamese businesses are also ramping up imports of auto parts and components, particularly from China. In March 2025 alone, Vietnam imported $481 million worth of auto parts, up nearly 17 percent from the previous month.

Although Vietnam sources auto parts from a variety of markets, six markets dominate, including China, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, India, and Indonesia.

In the first quarter of this year, Vietnam's total auto part imports reached $1.27 billion, rising 37.5 percent over the same period last year.