During a visit to Vietnam, KamAZ CEO Sergey Kogogin announced the company's plans to introduce modern K5 series trucks, compliant with the Euro-5 environmental standard, to the local market. This step aims to strengthen the brand's position in the face of fierce competition from Chinese, Thai, and European manufacturers.
Historically, KamAZ has strong ties with Vietnam: since 1979, more than 30,000 trucks have been delivered to the country. However, the market has changed in recent decades - today, it is dominated by vehicles from China, Indonesia, and Thailand, as well as localized production from joint ventures. At the same time, the average income of Vietnamese people is about $4,000 per year, but 250-350 thousand new passenger cars are sold annually, mainly budget imported models. Russian passenger cars, including Renault Duster, are no longer competitive, but a niche remains for KamAZ trucks.
The key advantage of the new K5 trucks will be fuel efficiency, comparable to European counterparts, as well as compliance with strict environmental standards. For successful implementation, KamAZ is developing infrastructure: cooperating with the distributor New Atlantic International Trading (11 service centers), strengthening logistics through its subsidiary KAMAZ TRADE, and creating a spare parts warehouse in Ho Chi Minh City. Testing and certification of equipment are also underway. Local service centers are equipped with modern equipment.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested considering the possibility of building a KamAZ assembly plant. This will reduce costs and strengthen its position in the Southeast Asian market.
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