# Mythical Wooden Vehicles The Le Nguyen Khang Achilles Car is a Vietnamese Oak Powerhouse By Nikki Taylor | Published 2012-10-29 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/le-nguyen-khang-achilles References: [odditycentral](http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/vietnamese-man-shows-off-car-made-almost-entirely-out-of-wood.html) & [talkvietnam](http://talkvietnam.com/2012/10/first-wood-car-made-in-vietnam/) The Le Nguyen Khang 'Achilles' car is a wooden delicacy. It is a Vietnamese automobile created out of [high-quality lumber](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/superwood) that cruises down the streets of Ho Chi Minh city. Le Nguyen Kang's vehicle is made of ash, xylia xylocarpa and walnut. It weighs 1.5 tons and uses imported [BMW](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/powerful-hybrid-suv) parts to run. It can go up to 60 kilometers per hour. The idea for the car was prompted by a conversation with an English friend who was asking Kang about his Binh Duong wood processing business. The Le Nguyen Khang Achilles vehicle is finely crafted with engravings of light wooden dragons, turtles and other traditional emblems that represent nobility and beauty. It is named after the Grecian warrior known for his role in the Trojan War. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.5/10 - Popularity: 49% | Activity: 19% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Wooden Vehicles:** The Le Nguyen Khang Achilles car represents the trend of creating wooden vehicles as a unique and eco-friendly alternative to traditional automobiles. - **High-quality Lumber:** The use of ash, xylia xylocarpa, and walnut in the construction of the Le Nguyen Khang Achilles car showcases the trend of utilizing high-quality lumber in innovative ways. - **Traditional Emblems:** The engravings of light wooden dragons, turtles, and other traditional emblems on the Le Nguyen Khang Achilles car highlight the trend of incorporating cultural and historical symbolism into modern designs. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Automotive Manufacturing:** The automotive manufacturing industry could explore the opportunity to incorporate sustainable materials like wood into their production processes, as exemplified by the Le Nguyen Khang Achilles car. - **Wood Processing:** The wood processing industry can seize the opportunity to develop advanced techniques and technologies for creating intricate and durable wooden components for vehicles, as demonstrated by the Le Nguyen Khang Achilles car. - **Luxury and Customization:** The luxury and customization industry can tap into the market for unique, handcrafted vehicles like the Le Nguyen Khang Achilles car, offering personalized and exclusive experiences to customers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Aviation Powered Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beast-by-john-dodd.md) - [Stealthy Fantasy-Themed Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/f117-4wd-covenant.md) - [Fortified Electric SUV Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lac-hong-900-lx.md) - [Handcrafted Off-Road Timber Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gravel-wood-bike.md) - [Modernized War-Inspired Truck Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/van-daryl-war-truck.md) - [Limited Production Timber Bicycles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alfredo-wooden-bikes.md) - [Audaciously Powerful Hypercars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/powerful-hypercars.md) - [Cabin-Transformed Vintage Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/1970-volkswagen-beetle.md) - [Wood-Paneled Electric Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2023-nissan-ariya-surfwagon-concept.md)