After first unsuccessfully entering the Vietnamese market a dozen years ago, Chinese automaker Haima plans to begin selling cars here again later this year.
Tran Viet Son, sales director at Carvivu, Haima’s new distributor in Vietnam, said the company will import 3 Haima models, namely the 8S, 7X and 7X-E.
The 7X will be the first model released in Vietnam beginning in the second half of 2023. The car is slated to compete with the Mitsubishi Xpander and the Toyota Veloz, Son said. Haimas will be sold at two showrooms in Hanoi and one in HCMC.
The distributor expects the 7X to be Haima’s biggest seller in Vietnam due to the popularity of multi-purpose vehicles (MPV).
Son said the car would probably sell for around VND700-800 million (US$29,700-33,900) each. The most popular MPV models in Vietnam currently sell for significantly less than that.
The Mitsubishi Xpander costs VND555-688 million per unit, while the Toyota Veloz sells for VND658-698 million.
The most expensive MPV model in Vietnam is the is Kia Carens, which lists at around VND619-859 million.
The electric variant of the 7X, the 7X-E, is expected to cost VND1 billion or more.
Haima’s small car offering, the 8S, will also be available on the Vietnamese market in the second half of this year. The 8S will be competing with the Mazda CX-5 (VND839-1,059 million) and the Hyundai Tucson (VND845-1,060 million).
The Chinese automaker first entered the Vietnamese market in 2011, only to soon exit quietly after failing to compete with stronger, more durable Japanese cars
However, over the past two years, Chinese automakers such as Beijing, Hongqi and BAIC have begun to reach Vietnamese customers.
Automobile manufacturer Chery has announced plans to build a factory in Vietnam to assemble cars for export.
And Vietnamese firm TMT Motors will also begin assembling and distributing Chinese Wuling Hongguang Mini EV electric cars late this year.