HANOI, March 18 (Reuters) - The founder of Vietnamese

electric vehicle maker VinFast on Monday launched an EV charging

stations company, V-Green, which he said would prioritise

supporting VinFast vehicles globally.

V-Green, of which billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong holds a 90%

stake, will operate as a global partner, spearheading the

creation of a comprehensive charging network, he said a

statement.

"V-Green will directly search for land and partners to

establish and expand its charging network in key markets of

VinFast," Vuong said.

VinFast, which was founded by Vuong in 2017 and debuted on

the Nasdaq last year, has said it would expand to at least 50

countries in 2024.

In Vietnam, V-Green will be responsible for operating and

managing VinFast's existing charging network and will consider

expanding charging services to other EV manufacturers after five

years of operation.

It would spend about $404 million in the next two years on

new outlets and upgrades for the charging network, he said.

Last year, Vuong founded a EV taxi operator, Green SM, which

accounted for 72% of VinFast's 2023 sales.