Modern cars have evolved beyond traditional manufacturing, increasingly combining software, artificial intelligence, automation, battery technologies and connectivity. This transformation has intensified competition for talent, with automakers competing not only among themselves but also with Silicon Valley giants and technology startups for software engineers, AI specialists, battery experts and highly skilled technicians.
Germany’s automotive sector faced a shortfall of approximately 80,000 skilled professionals in 2024, while the United Kingdom reported more than 14,000 vacancies in the automotive sector, with only 27% of its workforce currently qualified to work safely on electric vehicles.
Industry experts have argued that recruitment alone cannot address the challenge and that talent development must begin well before the hiring process. One industry analysis stated that companies that succeed will be those that “start early, think creatively about recruitment, and treat talent development as a core strategic priority, not a secondary HR task.” It added that “in an industry as competitive and fast moving as automotive, the true horsepower remains human.”
Automakers are responding by retooling their workforces and developing talent pipelines. One company is investing EUR 400 million annually in workforce training, while another has committed £20 million each year to skills development programmes focused on EV technologies and advanced manufacturing. Other companies are expanding their technology capabilities while developing digital talent pipelines.
For global automaker VinFast, the strategy begins long before prospective employees submit their first job applications.
As a member company of Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest private conglomerate, VinFast benefits from an ecosystem spanning education, research and technology. In 2025, VinFast and VinUniversity, Vingroup’s non-profit university, established a strategic partnership focused on battery technologies and advanced materials. The partnership created opportunities for students and researchers to participate in joint research projects, technical training and internships alongside VinFast experts.
Beyond the Vingroup ecosystem, VinFast has collaborated with 19 universities and higher education institutions nationwide to standardise training programmes across automotive engineering, mechatronics, electrical and electronics engineering, automation and information technology.
The company provides hands-on training equipment and genuine technical repair materials while integrating EV repair modules covering battery systems, powertrains and diagnostic software into academic curricula.
Students can also undertake internships at VinFast’s manufacturing complexes and service workshops nationwide, with outstanding candidates prioritised for recruitment after graduation.
The approach extends to markets where VinFast is developing its overseas manufacturing footprint, with local talent development incorporated alongside factory expansion.
In India, VinFast has set a target of creating 3,000 to 3,500 direct jobs at its Tamil Nadu plant, with 80% of the workforce planned to come from local fresh graduates and trainees. Its first recruitment drive brought in 200 local professionals, while 344 diploma students participated in the selection process through Tamil Nadu’s Naan Mudhalvan skilling initiative.
In Indonesia, VinFast’s Subang plant initially absorbed around 1,700 workers. The company trained managerial staff in Vietnam for three to four months and brought Vietnamese experts to Indonesia to train local technicians. The facility is expected to expand as production scales, with its workforce and training pipeline growing alongside its planned capacity expansion.
Industry observer Phạm Minh said such collaborations extend beyond workforce development for an individual company.
For an EV brand to develop sustainably, human resources must serve as a seamless “lifeblood” across the entire value chain, from research and development, manufacturing and quality control to aftersales services, he noted.
He said standardising EV education can create a generation of engineers with a common “technical DNA”, enabling them to master emerging technologies from the moment they enter the workforce.
Nguyen Van Viet, who has spent years researching transportation, said VinFast’s approach can also help narrow the gap between classroom education and the practical requirements of industry.
“This model creates value for all three stakeholders: companies gain talent that meets their requirements, educational institutions are able to update their curricula based on real-world needs, and students gain access to more high-quality career opportunities,” he said. “More broadly, this approach will help establish a strong human capital foundation for Vietnam’s EV industry to develop sustainably for years to come.”
VinFast (NASDAQ: VFS), a subsidiary of Vingroup JSC, one of Vietnam’s largest conglomerates, is a pure-play electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer with the mission of making EVs accessible to everyone. Its current product lineup includes electric SUVs, e-scooters and e-buses.
VinFast is embarking on its next growth phase through rapid expansion of its distribution and dealership network globally and increasing its manufacturing capacities, with a focus on key markets across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The company’s workforce strategy places education, technical training and local talent development alongside its manufacturing expansion, reflecting the growing importance of skilled human capital to the EV industry.
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