We visited Cuu Long Automobile Factory-Cuu Long Motor in Hung Yen, a unit of TMT Motor at a peak time of production with all the factory’s workshops operating at full capacity. According to Bui Duc Kien, Deputy Director of the factory, during the peak hours, the factory manufactures about 3,000 automobiles/month and the workers must frequently work overtime to meet the demand of customers.
With synchronous and modern facilities, a system of advanced automobile assembly and production lines and a staff of skilled and highly professional workers, Cuu Long Motor is one of the leading automobile producers in Vietnam. It is capable of assembling automobiles of famous brand names, specifically Hyundai and Nissan. At present Cuu Long Motor focuses on manufacturing trucks to meet the domestic market demand.
 

 

Talking with us, Bui Van Huu, CEO of TMT Motor, said: “When TMT Motor set up its target aimed at the rural market, every body thought that farmers could not afford a car. However, the leaders of TMT Motor, thought differently. There was a great demand for light trucks in rural areas, particularly in the mountainous areas in Vietnam. The issue was how to look for suitable automobiles to manufacture. In 2004, the first batch, including 150 automobiles, was transported to rural areas and immediately sold out to the surprise of many.” TMT Motor then became determined to build its factory in Hung Yen with a total investment capital of over 300 billion VND. It is one of the first large-scale truck manufacturing factories in Vietnam. In a short time, the factory reached a capacity of 10,000 automobiles/year and it now is able to manufacture about 30,000 automobiles/year.
Since its establishment, the output of the factory has continually increased. With its development strategy, TMT Motor continues to preserve its title of being an automobile assembly and manufacturing unit with two types of high-quality automobiles. Cuu Long Motor has 50 types of light, medium and heavy trucks with a domestic ratio of 30%. It has 60 distribution agents nationwide and owns over 40 certificates of monopolistic trademarks and five certificates of monopolistic industrial design.
The factory has applied advanced scientific and technical progress to manufacturing its products. The technology of spot welding in the cabinet production line helps ensure the accuracy and firmness of every part, improving the durability of automobiles in the harsh climate conditions in Vietnam. This is the strength of Cuu Long Motor compared to other similar products in the market. It has also put into operation the most advanced electrostatic line in Vietnam to help increase the durability, gloss and beauty of the paint as well as the durability of the automobiles. Furthermore, the whole process of manufacturing and assembly is strictly supervised to minimize avoidable technical errors. It also has established a basic training process and suitable treatment policies to attract skilled and professional workers.
 

Cuu Long Motor has quickly taken over the market and has been selected one of the top 100 strongest brand names in Vietnam. Many parts of Cuu Long products like the body and interior of their automobiles are registered for protection under the monopoly of industrial design by the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam.
In 2007 TMT Motor was entrusted by the Prime Minister to pilot the plan to replace vehicles that are not safe, like three-wheel motorcycles and out-of date cars and trucks. Another provision allowed by the government is giving each family in mountainous provinces in the North and Tay Nguyen (the Central Highlands) a loan of nine million VND to buy an automobile. Therefore, the market share of trucks of TMT Motor has reached nearly 38% of the whole country’s truck market share.
In 2011, although the economy everywhere faced many difficulties, Cuu Long Motor steadily developed and continued receiving many large orders.
The image of trucks with strong engines and the beautiful style of Cuu Long Motor has become familiar to the Vietnamese people, making a great contribution to the economic development of people in particular and the national economic, scientific and technological cause in general.