Vietnam Plans To Become Global Motorbike Producer By 2010

By the year 2010, Vietnam aims to become a major global producer of motorbikes by exporting at least 2 million units each year to markets in South East Asia and Africa.

The Ministry of Industry (MoI) which has set out the 2010 to 2020 development orientations for Vietnam's motorbike industry said the country needs to reach an annual output of 3.1 million units.

This figure which is 1 million units above current production levels will be required in order to achieve export targets.

The MoI strategy calls for the industry to sell a million motorbikes domestically each year, mainly to rural and mountainous areas where people require low-cost transport to earn their living.

In order to build an export-oriented industry, MoI said it is crucial for local assemblers and parts suppliers to join forces in setting up and promoting trademarks for Vietnamese motorbike products.

Industry experts commented that Vietnam is a late-comer in the race to create trademarks as many countries have already entered the final stage of their production process which is the export of technology and production bases.

The problem for Vietnamese assemblers, now accounting for roughly half of the domestic market, is that many have not acquired their own industrial designs.

Assemblers report that it is necessary to borrow designs from var