Old Friends Come Home, Smart Manufacturing Sets Sail: DFLZM and Vietnamese Partners to Build CKD Plant at CAEXPO

LIUZHOU, China and NANNING, China, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- During the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo, Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor Co., Ltd. (DFLZM) hosted the CHENGLONG Key Customers T.O.P Value Exploration Journey, welcoming delegations from VINH PHAT MOTORS CO., LTD. and HAI AU MOTOR INVESTMENT JOINT STOCK COMPANY—two core strategic partners in Vietnam—for a "homecoming" visit.

On September 18, at the Expo venue, DFLZM signed a strategic cooperation agreement with VINH PHAT and HAI AU to jointly build a commercial vehicle CKD (Completely Knocked Down) plant in Vietnam—CHENGLONG's first CKD plant in ASEAN, marking its transition from CBU (Completely Built Unit) export to localized manufacturing. This landmark deal, inked at the Expo, embodies the deepening industrial ties between China and Vietnam.

Vietnam is one of DFLZM's most deeply rooted overseas markets. Over 30 years, DFLZM has evolved from product export to ecosystem building: CHENGLONG trucks hold about 55% of Vietnam's road truck market, with annual exports exceeding 9,000 units and over 30 4S/3S outlets nationwide—set to expand to 50 by end-2026. This deep foundation makes the CKD partnership a natural next step.

During the homecoming visit, the Vietnamese partners toured DFLZM's commercial vehicle smart factory, witnessing CHENGLONG truck manufacturing, while experiencing the dual charm of "Industrial Liuzhou" and "Charming Liuzhou." Beyond a factory tour, it was a confirmation of trust—seeing the manufacturing system behind CHENGLONG quality to advance CKD implementation and localization. From "coming home" to "building a new home," DFLZM and its Vietnamese partners are advancing bilateral automotive cooperation on a new stage.

The CKD plant will start mass production in April 2027, with an annual capacity of 1,000 units. DFLZM provides product technology and assembly processes, VINH PHAT handles local production, and HAI AU leads market development and customer service. The project will introduce CHENGLONG light trucks via CKD, filling Vietnam's light truck market gap, lowering user costs, nurturing local components such as tires and batteries, supporting industrial upgrading, and creating local jobs.

From the Liujiang River to ASEAN shores, from CBU export to localized manufacturing, this homecoming is both a return of friendship and a new starting point for rooting in ASEAN and shared industrial growth. Building on 30 years of trust, with the CKD agreement as a bridge, DFLZM is opening a new chapter in China-Vietnam automotive cooperation.