Ho Chi Minh City delays low-emission zone rollout by 6 months

Vietnam's most populous city has postponed the introduction of a low-emission zone that restricts gasoline-powered vehicles, pushing back the implementation by 6 months. The initial phase will cover a limited downtown area and apply only to buses and garbage trucks, giving residents and businesses additional time to prepare for the new regulation.

Why it matters: The delay signals slower than expected fleet electrification timelines in Southeast Asia's major urban centres, potentially affecting procurement schedules for electric buses and municipal vehicles. CPOs and fleet operators targeting Vietnam's commercial transport sector gain a longer runway to deploy charging infrastructure ahead of enforcement.