Viet Nam's Automotive Supplier Industry: Development Prospects under Conditions for Free Trade and Global Production Networks

Abstract

Despite foreign direct investment occurring in the 1990s, automobile production in Viet Nam has not progressed beyond assembly. Due to forthcoming trade liberalisation in ASEAN, these assembly operations are endangered from closure as car-makers consider shifting to imports from more developed automobile manufacturing countries in the region. This paper analyses the current state of the automotive industry in Viet Nam and seeks to formulate policy recommendations based on the findings.