PARIS — This year's Paris Motor Show marked the debut of VinFast, the first Vietnamese manufacturer to attend a major international auto show. The Hanoi-based brand’s first two models, the LUX A2.0 sedan and the LUX SA2.0 SUV, attracted the attention of 8 million viewers around the world, as well as famed athlete and global style icon David Beckham and Miss Vietnam 2018 Tran Tieu Vy.

The OEM is preparing to launch the LUXes in Vietnam in mid-2019. CEO James DeLuca said the brand enjoys sustainable financial backing from parent company VinGroup and the vehicles were developed in accordance with international standards.

“At the Paris show, our ambition was to establish Vietnam on the map of the international automobile industry,” DeLuca said. “We worked hard at VinFast to prepare for this momentous occasion and overcame a lot of difficult challenges. We are very proud that the introduction of VinFast and our first two models to the world received such positive feedback. The level of interest from the international media, automotive industry, important guests and the public has exceeded all our expectations.”

David Beckham and Tran Tieu Vy joined DeLuca at VinFast’s press conference.

“Vietnam is such a beautiful country and I can see how the VinFast design team have been able to bring some of that beauty alive in the lines of these amazing new cars,” Beckham said. “It’s great to be here in Paris to celebrate the arrival of a new car manufacturer on the global stage. The passion that you all have for the cars is infectious. It’s an inspirational story and I’m proud to be here at this important moment.”