Li Auto and Forthing have secured Neera Motors as their importer and distributor in Vietnam. Both brands are currently undertaking import procedures, vehicle inspections, and dealer network development.

Hoang Chi Trung, director of Neera Motors, stated that Li Auto expects to begin operations by late 2026 or early 2027, with Forthing following slightly later. "Our plan is to establish the first two Li Auto showrooms in Hanoi and TP HCM, then expand further," Trung said.

Li Auto, an automotive brand established in 2015, has its headquarters in Beijing and a manufacturing plant in Changzhou, Jiangsu province. The company specializes in battery electric vehicles (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicles (EREV). Li Auto offers a total of 6 products, with an even split between BEV and EREV models.

The Li L6 on display at the Beijing Auto Show, 4/2026. Photo: CnEVPost

A representative from the distributor indicated that the all-electric i6 and EREV models such as the L6, L8, and L9 will be among the first available for sale in Vietnam. The i6 is a compact CUV with a fastback design, while the L6, L8, and L9 are CUV/SUV models ranging from small to large.

In China, Li Auto is positioned as a premium vehicle brand, placing it above mainstream manufacturers such as BYD, Aion, and Geely. Zeekr, another Chinese brand preparing to enter Vietnam, shares a similar market positioning with Li Auto.

Forthing is a subsidiary of the Dongfeng Group, established in 2001. Separately, Dongfeng passenger car models are currently distributed in Vietnam by Carvivu.

In 2021, several Forthing T5 Evo units were imported into Vietnam but were distributed on a small scale. The vehicle subsequently vanished from the market, despite a relatively low price of 769 million VND for a C-segment CUV.

The V9 model in the Chinese market. Photo: Dongfeng Forthing

The Forthing V9 is expected to be the first model available in the Vietnamese market. This large hybrid MPV will compete with models such as the GAC GS8 and Kia Carnival.

Trung mentioned that Forthing plans a product restructuring with a new design language by late 2026. Vietnam will be the first market outside China to distribute some of Forthing's new-phase models.

The entry of Li Auto and Forthing further strengthens the presence of Chinese automobiles in Vietnam. In addition to these two brands, DFSK and Zeekr are also expected to enter the market in the near future.

Over the past three years, dozens of Chinese car brands have entered the Vietnamese market. Compared to a decade ago, this current influx of Chinese vehicles is more structured, featuring clear business strategies that prioritize technology platforms and electrified powertrains as key attractions for consumers.

While Chinese brands are numerous, their overall sales volume in Vietnam remains modest compared to other market competitors. MG and BYD are currently the two best-selling Chinese automotive brands in Vietnam.

In 2025, according to data collected by VnExpress, MG recorded approximately 9,600 new first-time and re-registered vehicles, while BYD had over 3,700 vehicles. These figures are significantly lower than market leaders such as Hyundai (53,229 vehicles), Toyota (71,954 vehicles), or VinFast (175,099 vehicles).

Thanh Nhan