Italdesign will design minicars for VinFast

Italdesign has won a commission to design two minicars, one full-electric and one with an internal combustion engine, for Vietnamese automaker VinFast.

Italdesign previously won the right to style an SUV and sedan for VinFast, which aims to be Vietnam's first domestic automaker. The SUV and sedan will be developed by Pininfarina, according to the Italian firm.

Meanwhile, Canadian supplier Magna International said today that it will provide complete vehicle engineering for the SUV and sedan.

VinFast is targeting production of 500,000 vehicles by 2025 after an initial output of between 100,000 and 200,000.

The automaker's plant, in the northern port city of Haiphong, will eventually also build motorbikes, the company has said.

VinFast said in September it had begun construction of the factory as part of a project worth $1 billion to $1.5 billion in the first phase. The company said then it planned to buy blueprints of car engines and main mechanical systems from top European and U.S. designers.

Vinfast is part of Vietnam's leading property developer, Vingroup.

Italdesign's latest designs were chosen in a competition in which 40 proposals were submitted by design houses around the world, VinFast said.

More than 60,000 participants voted from March 7 to March 18, to choose the best design in the contest, the company said.