Software ownership and vertical integration: VinFast European winning cards according to Head of Commercial Vehicles Diego Ghirardi - Sustainable Bus

VinFast is expanding its commercial vehicle ambitions with new battery-electric bus models planned for Europe and increased participation in regional export markets. The company presented 12-metre and 8-metre electric buses at Busworld 2025 and continues to grow domestic operations through the VinBus network. VinFast is also advancing manufacturing and production capabilities within the VinGroup ecosystem. Diego Ghirardi, appointed Head of Commercial Vehicles, focuses on production volumes, vertical integration, and an export roadmap. For European e-buses, VinFast is changing bus structure and introducing a new electrical architecture already used in passenger cars, aiming to reduce components, assembly steps, costs, and vehicle weight while improving repairability and maintenance outcomes.

"On our e-buses for the European market we are currently introducing changes inside the bus structure compared to the vehicles presented at Busworld 2025. And we aim to introduce our new electrical architecture, which we developed and started introducing in passenger cars a year ago, and which gives us the possibility to reduce the number of components, reduce assembly, and therefore save not only on costs, but also on weight. It also makes the vehicle easier to repair in case there are problems, so we also meet customer needs in terms of maintenance."

"VinFast is accelerating its ambitions in the commercial vehicle sector, with new electric bus models under development for Europe and a growing role in regional export markets. The Vietnamese manufacturer has already entered the European e-bus conversation with the presentation of a 12-metre and 8-meter battery-electric buses at Busworld 2025, while continuing to expand domestic operations, also through the VinBus network."

"During a recent media trip in Vietnam that gave us the opportunity to take stock of VinGroup ecosystem and of VinFast manufacturing processes, Sustainable Bus spoke with Diego Ghirardi, recently appointed Head of Commercial Vehicles, about the group's production volumes, vertical integration strategy, export roadmap and the next generation of buses being developed for international markets."

"Originally from Italy and graduated in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Genoa, Ghirardi joined VinFast in 2024 after working in the United States on electric pickup trucks and SUVs at Rivian. At VinFast he initially served as Chief Engineer for the VF8 program before moving to the helm of the commercial vehicles division in March 2026."

Read at Sustainable Bus