VinFast EV Talent Strategy: How Automakers Are Solving the Electric Vehicle Skills Gap

As electric vehicles become increasingly defined by software, battery tech, and artificial intelligence, car makers are discovering that their biggest competitive edge lies in the people building the vehicles. Industry analysis highlighted a quiet race unfolding across the automotive sector: securing tech talent capable of bridging traditional mechanical engineering with next-generation digital tools. EV brands are no longer just competing with traditional automakers, but with Silicon Valley giants and software startups for AI specialists, battery experts, and skilled technicians.

The Scale of the Automotive Skills Gap

The shortage of qualified EV professionals presents a significant hurdle for manufacturers globally, prompting major investments in workforce training:

Industry experts stress that recruitment alone cannot solve this deficit. Instead, automakers must start talent development early and treat workforce training as a core strategic priority rather than a secondary HR task.

Building Engineers Before Hiring Them

Pure-play EV manufacturer VinFast (NASDAQ: VFS)—a subsidiary of Vietnam’s largest private conglomerate Vingroup JSC—is addressing this shortage by cultivating talent long before job applications are submitted. Producing a wide lineup of electric SUVs, e-scooters, and e-buses, the company leverages Vingroup’s broader educational ecosystem:

• VinUniversity Partnership: In 2025, VinFast partnered with Vingroup’s non-profit university, VinUniversity, focusing on battery technologies and advanced materials. The scheme offers students and researchers opportunities for joint research projects, technical training, and internships alongside VinFast experts[5].
• National Academic Collaborations: VinFast collaborates with 19 higher education institutions across Vietnam to standardise training programmes in automotive engineering, mechatronics, electrical and electronics engineering, automation, and IT.
• Curricula & Hands-on Training: The brand supplies genuine repair materials, diagnostic equipment, and integrates practical EV modules—covering powertrains, battery systems, and software—into academic courses. Outstanding internship candidates across VinFast’s workshops and manufacturing complexes are prioritised for recruitment upon graduation[6].

International Manufacturing and Local Skilling

As VinFast expands its global footprint across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, its workforce development model is being integrated directly into its overseas factory operations:

• India (Tamil Nadu Plant): The facility aims to create 3,000 to 3,500 direct jobs, with 80% planned for local fresh graduates and trainees. Its first hiring drive brought in 200 local professionals, while 344 diploma students participated through Tamil Nadu’s Naan Mudhalvan skilling initiative.
• Indonesia (Subang Plant): The site initially absorbed around 1,700 workers. Managerial staff underwent three to four months of training in Vietnam, while Vietnamese experts relocated to Indonesia to upskill local technicians as production capacity scales.

Expert Insights on the Industry Impact

Industry observer Phạm Minh notes that sustainable EV growth requires human resources to act as a seamless “lifeblood” across R&D, manufacturing, quality control, and aftersales. Standardising EV education instils a shared “technical DNA” in new engineers, enabling them to master emerging technologies from day one.

Transportation researcher Nguyễn Văn Việt highlights that this model delivers value to all key stakeholders: automakers secure job-ready talent, academic bodies update their curricula to match real-world industry demands, and students gain direct access to high-quality career pathways—laying a strong human capital foundation for the broader EV ecosystem.