VinFast Auto announced it has set itself a target of selling 300,000 vehicles globally in 2026, as it continues to push into overseas markets with new models. The Vietnamese battery electric vehicle (BEV) manufacturer saw its global sales more than double to 196,919 vehicles last year, up from 97,399 units in 2024, driven mainly by strong growth in its domestic market. The company’s sales in Vietnam almost doubled to 175,099 units in 2025, accounting for almost one-third of the 564,000 light vehicles sol ...

Group 1 - VinFast Auto Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Exposure SARL to potentially supply green taxi services in Kinshasa, marking a significant step in its international expansion strategy [1][2] - The partnership will focus on developing a rollout for the first batch of electric vehicles (EVs), including commercial models like Limo Green and Herio Green, aimed at establishing an all-electric taxi fleet to reduce urban emissions [2] - VinFast aims to deliver 300,000 electric vehicles in fiscal 2026, with two-wheeler vehicle deliveries expected to be at least 2.5 times higher than those in 2025 [4] Group 2 - VinFast is a Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer, part of Vingroup, dedicated to designing and producing smart electric cars, e-scooters, and electric buses for global markets, with a focus on making EVs accessible through premium features and sustainable mobility solutions [5]

Group 1 - Chinese carmakers BYD, Geely, and Vietnam's VinFast are finalists to acquire a Nissan-Mercedes-Benz vehicle plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico, advancing from nine bidders [1] - The Aguascalientes factory, opened in 2017, has an annual capacity of 230,000 vehicles and is being closed due to Nissan ending production of certain models and Mercedes-Benz shifting production to Hungary [2] - Mexico's federal government has encouraged local authorities to postpone approvals for Chinese automotive investments while negotiating trade arrangements with the US, despite lacking authority to block the sale [3] Group 2 - The interest from BYD and Geely highlights the rapid expansion of China's automotive sector, as Mexico's auto industry faces challenges from US tariffs, including a 25% tariff on Mexican-built cars imposed in March 2025 [4] - The tariffs contributed to a nearly 3% decline in exports to the US in 2025 and resulted in approximately 60,000 job losses in the sector last year [4] - The Chinese commerce ministry is aware of the Aguascalientes proposals and has not raised objections to the overseas factory projects [5]

Core Viewpoint - VinFast Auto Ltd (NASDAQ:VFS) is advancing its international expansion strategy by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Exposure SARL for the supply of electric vehicles for green taxi services in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo [1]. Group 1: MOU Details - The MOU involves discussions for developing a plan to supply the first batch of VinFast electric vehicles, including Limo Green and Herio Green models, for electric taxi services in Kinshasa [2]. - Exposure SARL intends to act as a distributor of VinFast vehicles in the Congolese market and will collaborate on a business plan tailored to local conditions [3]. Group 2: Company Overview - VinFast Auto Ltd is engaged in the design and manufacture of electric vehicles, including electric buses and scooters, and is building an e-mobility ecosystem focused on community, customers, and connectivity [4].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the current state of equity markets, highlighting a "manic market" and the potential for investment in strong buy penny stocks, particularly in light of recent economic indicators and hedge fund interest [1][2][3]. Market Analysis - Chris Senyek from Wolfe Research describes the current equity market as "manic," indicating that recent price movements lack fundamental support [1]. - The earnings season has shown positive EPS revisions primarily in sectors such as energy, communication services, technology, and financials, while materials, industrials, and staples are also performing well [2]. - Tim Urbanowicz from Innovator Capital Management notes that while some market segments are expensive, the overall economic backdrop is strong, supported by recent Federal Reserve rate cuts, increased tax refunds for Americans, and rising PMIs, which could lead to a rotation trade [3]. Investment Strategy - The article outlines a methodology for selecting penny stocks, focusing on those priced under $5 with a consensus Strong Buy rating from analysts, and popularity among elite hedge funds as of Q3 2025 [6][7]. - The strategy has historically outperformed the market, with a reported return of 427.7% since May 2014, significantly beating its benchmark [7]. Company Highlights - **VinFast Auto Ltd (NASDAQ:VFS)**: Recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Exposure SARL for the supply of electric vehicles for green taxi services in Kinshasa, marking a significant step in its international expansion strategy [9][10][11]. The MOU aims to develop a plan for supplying electric vehicles, including Limo Green and Herio Green models, to operate electric taxi services [10]. - **New Pacific Metals Corp. (NYSE:NEWP)**: Reported a net loss of $1.58 million for the three months ended December 31, 2025, and $2.33 million for the six months, with working capital of $41 million [13][14]. The company’s financial results were influenced by operating expenses and income from investments, which reached $0.31 million and $0.42 million for the respective periods [15]. The company focuses on the development and exploration of mineral properties in Bolivia [15].

Group 1 - VinFast Auto delivered 196,919 vehicles globally in 2025, marking a 102% increase from 97,399 units in 2024 [1] - The company also delivered 406,498 e-scooters and e-bikes in 2025, representing a 473% increase over 2024 [1] - Local sales in Vietnam nearly doubled to 175,099 units in 2025, accounting for about one-third of total vehicle sales in the country, with the total market exceeding 550,000 units [2] Group 2 - VinFast sold 21,820 vehicles overseas in 2025, having established local production in India and Indonesia while expanding in other Asian markets, Europe, and the US [3] - Indonesia was the largest overseas market with 10,890 deliveries, primarily from imports before the local assembly plant began operations in December 2025 [4] - The company introduced the Limo Green battery-powered MPV in August 2025, which became the best-selling model in Vietnam, while the compact VF3 remained the top seller with 44,585 deliveries [5]

Core Insights - VinFast is leveraging its industry-leading 10-year warranty to attract cautious electric vehicle (EV) buyers as the market normalizes and incentives fade [1] - The Canadian EV market is shifting towards a focus on cost, reliability, and long-term support, with buyers evaluating EVs similarly to traditional gasoline vehicles [1] - VinFast's strategy emphasizes education on total cost of ownership and warranty coverage, addressing common concerns of potential EV buyers [1] Group 1: Warranty and Support - VinFast offers a 10-year or 200,000-kilometre warranty, along with a 10-year unlimited-mileage battery warranty under normal use, which is a significant differentiator in the market [1] - The company aims to make car ownership more affordable, with the VinFast VF 8 starting at approximately CAD 47,206, making it accessible to budget-conscious buyers [1] Group 2: Market Positioning - As the market transitions past early adopters, VinFast is focusing on aftersales policies and warranty length to build consumer trust and encourage EV adoption [1] - The integration of the VinFast mobile app with about 95% of public charging stations in North America enhances convenience for EV owners, providing access to over 100,000 Level 2 and DC fast chargers [1]

Group 1 - U.S. stock index futures show mixed performance, with Nasdaq futures up 0.63% and S&P 500 futures up 0.25%, while Dow futures are down 0.44% [1] - Major European indices also display mixed results, with Germany's DAX down 0.09%, UK's FTSE 100 up 0.35%, France's CAC up 0.37%, and the Euro Stoxx 50 up 0.28% [1] - The Federal Reserve officials expect to pause interest rate cuts this week, with an unclear path for future cuts [1] Group 2 - Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are negotiating with Apple to significantly increase the price of LPDDR memory used in iPhones, with a potential increase of up to 100% [2] Group 3 - The European Union has initiated two compliance procedures to ensure Google meets its obligations under the Digital Markets Act [3] Group 4 - Microsoft has received approval to build 15 additional data centers in Wisconsin, USA [4] Group 5 - Micron Technology is investing $24 billion to expand production in Singapore to address AI chip shortages [5] - Synopsys CEO anticipates that the price increase and shortage of memory chips will persist until 2027 [5] Group 6 - Nike is reportedly planning to lay off 775 employees to enhance profitability and accelerate automation [6] Group 7 - Alibaba has officially launched its flagship reasoning model Qwen3-Max-Thinking, which is noted for its stronger initiative and proficiency in logical reasoning [7] Group 8 - XPeng Motors' CEO expects "very strong" growth this year, with overseas sales growth potentially surpassing that of the domestic market [8] Group 9 - VinFast is collaborating with AI company Autobrains to develop autonomous driving technology [9] Group 10 - The U.S. Treasury has terminated its contract with consulting firm Booz Allen, related to the leak of tax records for Trump and Musk [10] Group 11 - UnitedHealth reported Q4 revenue of $113.215 billion, with adjusted EPS down 69.02% year-over-year to $2.11 [11] - General Motors reported Q4 revenue of $45.29 billion, with a loss of $3.31 billion; the company approved a $6 billion stock buyback plan [12] - American Airlines reported Q4 adjusted EPS of $0.16, which was below expectations, and anticipates a revenue decrease of $150 million to $200 million due to winter storms [13] - Raytheon Technologies reported a 12% year-over-year increase in Q4 sales to $24.24 billion, with adjusted EPS of $1.55, exceeding expectations [14]

Core Viewpoint - VinFast, a Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer, has announced a partnership with AI company Autobrains to develop advanced autonomous driving technology, including a low-cost "Robo-car" system. This collaboration aims to reduce costs and accelerate the deployment of autonomous driving technology, addressing the slow progress the company has faced despite significant investments in this area [1]. Group 1 - VinFast is collaborating with Autobrains to develop advanced autonomous driving technology [1] - The partnership includes the creation of a low-cost "Robo-car" system [1] - VinFast aims to lower costs and speed up the deployment of autonomous driving technology [1]

Core Insights - VinFast has partnered with AI firm Autobrains to develop advanced autonomous driving technology, which includes a low-cost "Robo-car" system, potentially enhancing the Vietnamese automotive market [1] Company Developments - The collaboration aims to leverage Autobrains' expertise in AI to create innovative solutions for autonomous driving [1] - The introduction of a low-cost "Robo-car" system could make autonomous vehicles more accessible to a broader audience [1] Industry Impact - This partnership signifies a strategic move for VinFast to position itself in the competitive autonomous vehicle sector [1] - The development of advanced autonomous driving technology may contribute to the growth of the Vietnamese automotive industry, aligning with global trends towards automation and smart mobility [1]