Vietnam’s Vinfast on Monday inaugurated a $500 million electric vehicle plant in southern India’s Tamil Nadu state, part of a planned $2 billion investment in India and a broader expansion across Asia.

Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast Auto Ltd. sees its new India factory as key to entering South Asia, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Chief Executive Officer Pham Sanh Chau said, as it begins a $500 million push to crack the world’s third-biggest car market.

Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast launched its first manufacturing facility in southern India on Monday, marking a key step in its expansion into the world's third-largest auto market.Vinfast plans to roll out cars to the showroom later this month,