Using map that violates Vietnam's sovereignty was a mistake: Yadea Vietnam

"We admit to making a severe mistake by partnering with service providers responsible for building the website and providing the map that caused the recent issue," Yadea Vietnam said in a statement. "We sincerely apologize for this mistake".

Yadea Vietnam stated that the map displaying images not in accordance with Vietnam's regulations was only visible on Saturday, with no similar incidents reported previously.

On Saturday customers outside Vietnam found on Yadea Vietnam’s website a map that displayed the two archipelagos as "Xisha" and "Nansha," the names China uses for Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel Islands) and Truong Sa (Spratly Islands).

A screenshot from Yadea Vietnam's map shows the names of Vietnam's two archipelagos Hoang Sa and Truong Sa being displayed in Chinese names, May 19, 2024.

However, those in Vietnam did not see the map. Yadea Vietnam reported that it has reviewed and removed all inappropriate map images from its website.

As of Monday afternoon, the "stores" section of the website remains inaccessible to customers.

The company stated that this section will be accessible once it verifies that all data is correctly displayed in accordance with Vietnamese laws.

However, internet users in other countries can still see the Chinese names on the map.

Vietnam has repeatedly affirmed that it has full legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly islands in accordance with international law.

Yadea entered Vietnam inn 2019 and built its first factory in the northern province of Bac Giang.

Earlier this year it started work on a second factory that quadruples the first one in size, it said.

Vietnam is Yadea’s biggest foreign market with a localization rate of 60%, which it eyes to pump up to 90%.

Its products include 15 motorbike models and three e-bike models with prices ranging between VND11.8 million ($464) and VND26.5 million.

It has 700 stores in the country.