Automaker Nissan Vietnam said Tuesday it would start production in Vietnam and introduce the first locally assembled cars next year.

A Nissan car seen in Vietnam

However, the automaker did not disclose production details or a list of products, just saying the vehicles would be assembled at Vietnam Motors Corp (VMC).

Nissan Vietnam, partly owned by Japan's Nissan Motor Co, added that Japanese engineers would be responsible for instruction and quality control. It will distribute the cars.

“Vietnam is a strategic market for Nissan with tremendous opportunities,” Shinya Hannya, Nissan’s corporate vice president for Asian markets, said in a statement.

Nissan Vietnam CEO said his company’s understanding of Vietnamese culture and customers would help bring to Nissan a wide acceptance here.

The company is a venture established in December 2008 by Japan’s Nissan and Denmark’s Kjaer Group. In the beginning, it imported and distributed Nissan cars, as well as parts and accessories via its agents.

Honda, Suzuki and Toyota are the other Japanese carmakers operating in Vietnam.

Besides Nissan cars, Vietnam Motors Corp assembles Chinese cars Lifan and Chery.