On 14/8, in Ninh Binh, Hyundai Thanh Cong (HTC) held a ceremony to commence vehicle exports to Mexico and Australia. The Creta is the first model to be shipped, with the Tucson Hybrid and Santa Fe Hybrid slated to follow.
Exports are a long-term development strategy for Hyundai Thanh Cong's production in Vietnam. According to the plan, the total export volume for 2026 is projected to reach 15,280 units, comprising 10,160 finished vehicles and 5,120 components. Among the models, the Creta is expected to be the most exported in 2026, though specific figures have not been disclosed. Following Mexico and Australia, Hyundai vehicles assembled by Thanh Cong will also be exported to Taiwan.
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Creta vehicles awaiting shipment at the port. Photo: HTC
From 2027 to 2029, Hyundai Thanh Cong plans to expand its markets to the Middle East, Africa, Central America, South America, and Russia. Total export volume during this period is projected to reach approximately 187,000 units. By 2030, the company aims to become a global export hub, targeting an export volume of over 60,000 units annually. This plan seeks to integrate products and components manufactured in Vietnam into the international automotive value chain.
Prior to Hyundai Thanh Cong, two other Vietnamese enterprises, Thaco and VinFast, have also exported vehicles globally. Experts consider this a positive sign for Vietnam's automotive industry, as consumers traditionally believed imported cars had better build quality than locally assembled ones. However, the export of Vietnamese-made vehicles to international markets, meeting foreign technical standards, indicates the developing craftsmanship and machinery quality at domestic factories.
In the region, while countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and more recently Malaysia, have long established export-oriented automotive industries, Vietnam's automotive sector previously served only the domestic market. Although late to the game, the gradual export efforts by major players such as Thanh Cong, Thaco, and VinFast are reshaping the entire industry's landscape.
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Hyundai Thanh Cong exported vehicles to Mexico and Australia on 14/8. Photo: HTC
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In 2026, Hyundai Thanh Cong plans to export 15,280 units, comprising 10,160 finished vehicles and 5,120 components.
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The Hyundai Creta will be the most exported vehicle in 2026.
Thanh Cong and Hyundai Motor began collaborating to build an automotive production system in Ninh Binh in 2009. During the 2009–2026 period, the company's two factories produced a total of 569,951 finished vehicles, including 472,559 passenger vehicles and 19,068 commercial vehicles. In 2022, Plant two commenced operations, making it Hyundai Motor's leading joint venture factory in the Asia-Pacific region.
Before expanding its scale in 2026, the company systematically implemented its export activities. During the 2018–2023 period, the enterprise exported vehicles to South Korea, Peru, and the Philippines. In 2024, the company exported 458 Palisade units, including components and finished vehicles, to Thailand. In 2025, the scope expanded further to Malaysia, Myanmar, and Kazakhstan, with a volume of 1,536 sets of components and 761 finished vehicles.
Luong Dung
