A proposal to require businesses to share electric vehicle (EV) charging stations has drawn strong opposition from industry leaders and experts. The proposal, made by Dr. Tran Huu Minh of the National Traffic Safety Committee, is aimed at optimising infrastructure use — but has been criticised as undermining fair competition and private investment, according to VietnamNet.
The article notes that:
- Economist Dinh The Hien has suggested that mandating sharing would be “unreasonable interference” unless the infrastructure was state-funded. Allowing foreign companies to use private infrastructure without investing creates unfair competition.
- Associate Professor Dam Hoang Phuc from Hanoi University of Science and Technology stated has said that charging stations are part of a business model, not a public good. Imposing access rules could enable foreign companies to exploit existing networks without contributing to long-term development.
This debate underscores the growing tension between promoting rapid EV adoption and protecting early domestic investors like VinFast. Forcing private firms to share infrastructure without compensation risks discouraging further investment and handing advantages to foreign automakers unwilling to invest in Vietnam’s EV ecosystem. Experts argue that a clear, market-based framework is needed — one that encourages all manufacturers to contribute to infrastructure, rather than free-ride — to ensure the long-term sustainability and fairness of the EV industry in Vietnam.
See also: Automotive Industry in Vietnam