La Dalat: The first “domestic” model in Vietnam – Established in 1970, La Dalat is the first civilian vehicle assembled, branded and mass produced in Vietnam with a localization rate of up to 40%.

More than 40 years ago, there were “made in VN” – Nearly half a century ago, people in the South were familiar with French products from the time of their domination, so cars were often vehicles from Europe.

In the mid-1960s with the mass import of two-wheeled motorbikes: Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha, Japanese automobiles also entered the Vietnamese market.

Cars made in France are no longer attractive to consumers except the Citroën 2CV. Therefore, Citroën in Vietnam decided to launch a kind of cheap and practical vehicles, which Japanese companies can not compete with. That is La Dalat.

Previously, Citroën had established a factory in Indochina in 1936, its headquarters at the corner of Le Loi Street – Nguyen Hue Street had become Caféteria Rex in Saigon.

Under the old regime was moved and renamed Citroën Automobile Company, followed by the Saigon Automobile Company which is now Diamond Plaza (HCMC).

Based on the model of the Méhari and the very successful Babybrousse in the old colonies, Citroën imported into Vietnam major components such as engines, steering wheels, shock absorbers, brakes, etc. The rest, such as lights, horns, , assembled in metal, roof … built in Vietnam.

At the time of its launch in 1970, the proportion of import and domestic parts was 75/25, the last year when Citroën closed in 1975 at 60/40. There are four types of La Dalat: 4 seats or 2 seats with cargo containers.