The AMX VCI (Vehicule de Combat d'Infanterie) was originally developed in the early 1950s to meet the requirements of the French Army. The first prototype was completed in 1955 and the first production vehicles in 1957 at the Atelier de Construction Roanne (ARE). When the ARE (which is now part of Nexter Systems and previously Giat Industries and is currently prime contractor for Leclerc MBT) started production of the AMX-30 MBT, production of the complete AMX-13 tank family, including the AMX VCI, was transferred to the Creusot-Loire facility at Chalon-sur-Saone.

When originally introduced into service with the French Army the vehicle was called the Transport de Troupe Chenillé Model 56 (or TT 12 CH Mle 56 for short). This was later changed to the Véhicule Transport de Personnel (or AMX VTP) and to the Véhicule de Combat d'Infanterie. It was used in large numbers by the French Army but has been replaced by the now Nexter Systems AMX-10P amphibious ICV.

It is believed that total production of the vehicle amounted to approximately 3,400 vehicles.

In more recent years production and marketing of the complete range of AMX-13 family of light armoured vehicles, including the VCI infantry combat vehicle, was carried out by Mecanique Creusot-Loire. This company is no longer involved in the design, development or production of armoured fighting vehicles.

From the 1970s many countries started to phase the AMX VCI out of front line service. Mexico has taken delivery of 401 AMX VCI series vehicles from Belgium. These were overhauled prior to delivery to Mexico by the Belgian company SABIEX International.

The chassis of the AMX VCI is similar to that of the AMX-13 light tank. The hull of the AMX VCI is of all-welded steel armour and is divided into three compartments, with the driver and engine compartments at the front and the troop compartment at the rear. The all-welded steel armour provides the occupants with protection from small arms fire and shell splinters. The highest level of protection is over the frontal arc of the AMX VCI.

The driver is seated at the front of the vehicle on the left with the engine compartment to his right. The driver has a single-piece hatch cover that opens to the left, in front of which are three day periscopes. The centre periscope can be replaced by an infra-red or image intensification periscope for night driving.

The original Sofam petrol engine is mounted facing the rear and can be removed through the roof in 40 minutes. The engine transmits power via the clutch to the gearbox at the front of the hull, to the right of which is the Cleveland-type steering differential.

Mounted on the glacis plate is a splashboard to prevent water rushing up the front of the vehicle when fording and a replacement wheel is normally carried on the glacis plate.

The troop compartment is behind and above the driver with the gunner seated on the left and the vehicle commander to his right. When the VCI was originally introduced into the French Army, the gunner had a single-piece hatch cover with eight day vision devices which swivelled to open, forward of which was a pintle-mounted 7.5 mm machine gun. This was later replaced by a ring-mounted .50 (12.7 mm) M2 HB machine gun or a CAFL 38 one-person turret armed with a 7.5 mm or a 7.62 mm machine gun.

The vehicle commander is seated to the right of the gunner and has a single-piece hatch cover that opens forwards, to the front and right side of which are three day periscopes.

The troop compartment is at the rear: the 10 infantrymen sit back-to-back down the centre of the hull and enter and leave the vehicle by two doors in the hull rear that open outward. Each door has a single firing port. In each side of the troop compartment are two two-piece hatch covers. The lower part of each has two firing ports and folds forwards into the horizontal and the upper part folds upwards through 180° to rest on the troop compartment roof.

The torsion bar suspension either side consists of five single rubber-tyred road wheels with the drive sprocket at the front, idler at the rear and four (in some cases three) track-return rollers that support the inside of the track only. The first and last road wheel stations either side have hydraulic shock-absorbers. The steel tracks have 85 links each side when new, and can be fitted with rubber pads.

When originally introduced into service the VCI was not fitted with an NBC system but one was subsequently fitted to later production vehicles for the French Army. Infra-red driving lights were standard on most vehicles but they do not have any amphibious capability.