THACOexpects exports this year to the US to be five times last year’s number.
InFebruary last year, it signed a memorandum of understanding for manufacturingand distributing semi-trailers with PITTS Enterprises, one of the 15 largestmanufacturers of the product in the US.
DorseyIntermodal, a subsidiary of PITTS, is THACO's representative in the US, anddistributes and warrants its products and provides it with technical advisoryand components.
Afterthe first shipment found acceptance among customers, THACO and Dorsey signedlarger contracts in 2021. But this year logistics difficulties due to theimpact of the Covid-19 pandemic have delayed exports by many months.
THACOnow expects to export 475 units in June and the third and fourth quarters.
Accordingto Dorsey, the tie-up with THACO has helped the company increase supplycapacity, diversify sources of supply and further meet customer needs.
Besidesthe US, Asia is a potential market that THACO targets, especially Japan,Thailand and Myanmar, with more than 100 trailers expected to be exported tothese market this year, bringing the total export volume of semi-trailers tothe US and Asia in 2021 to 630 products.
Theexport of semi-trailers is considered a great success for THACO, which has alsobeen exporting cars of all kinds and spare parts (exports worth nearly 50million USD last year).
THACOmakes a range of semi-trailers that meet the specialized requirements of eachpartner, with the main products including 20 feet slider semi-trailers, 40-feetgooseneck semi-trailers, and flatbed semi-trailers.
Theyhave all been certified as eligible to operate in traffic in the US, Japanand ASEAN countries. Besides, with semi-trailers from Vietnam not taxed, thecompany has a huge competitive advantage and opportunity to penetrate deeplyinto the US market as well as the chance to participate in the global supplychain.
THACOSpecial Vehicles Manufacturing Limited Company, or THACO SV, invests inupgrading technologies and machinery and equipment to expand itsproduction capacity. It also studies the characteristics and needs of eachmarket, quality standards and conditions so that its products can participatein their traffic as a basis for its R&D activities and feasibleexports.
Inaddition to enhancing exports of semi-trailers, THACO is planning to exportmore than 1,500 vehicles of various kinds (including Kia cars, buses andtrucks) to its existing markets in 2021, and enter new markets in Africa, WestAsia, South Asia, and Australia./.