Hyundai Rotem teams up with Vietnam's THACO to unveil urban rail vehicles for the first time

【HANOI, Vietnam—Reporter Kim Jun-seok】Hyundai Rotem and THACO Group, a Vietnamese heavy industry and automotive company, unveiled the first model of an urban rail vehicle, along with customized products, technologies and comprehensive solutions for developing the railway industry, at the Vietnam International Exhibition and Conference on Modern Railway Technology and Construction Infrastructure Supply Chain (VRT&CON' 2026).
Local media reported on the 12th that Hyundai Rotem and THACO Group set up a joint exhibition space at VRT&CON' 2026, held in Hanoi from the 8th to the 10th. There, the companies presented comprehensive solutions for developing Vietnam's railway transport infrastructure, spanning rail vehicles (locomotives and passenger cars), electrical and mechanical (E&M) systems, operations and maintenance, and transit-oriented development (TOD).
The companies' exhibition halls particularly drew visitors' attention with displays including a model of an urban rail vehicle built to the standard gauge of 1,435 mm, high-speed trains, an intelligent train control system, and a solution offering an immersive experience of train interiors using virtual reality (VR) technology.
The section featuring the model urban rail passenger car, a key exhibit, showcased numerous interior components—including the body frame, passenger seats, handrails, and ceiling and side panels—as well as exterior and functional parts such as inter-car gangways, window glass, the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, and the bogie, the vehicle's running gear.
Hyundai Rotem previously signed a contract with THACO Group in June for the technology transfer and localization of rail vehicles for Vietnam's urban railway systems. Under the agreement, Hyundai Rotem will provide technology transfer, personnel training and technical support to help THACO produce rail vehicles locally. It will also supply sets of parts and components, as well as complete locomotive and passenger car bodies made of aluminum alloy.
THACO said it plans to receive the technology transfer from 2026 to 2027 and focus on research into producing interior and exterior parts and aluminum extrusions in-house. It aims to complete the technology transfer in full by 2028 while moving ahead in earnest with local production and final assembly of rail vehicles.
[email protected] Reporter Kim Jun-seok, Correspondent Vu Thuy Tien Reporter