First Customers Take Delivery in December
VinFast, the new Vietnamese electric car startup, has sent its first batch of VF8 SUVs to the United States. They departed Haiphong, Vietnam at the end of November on the Silver Queen, a Panamanian charter ship, and will arrive in California. The Company expects the first VinFast customers to take delivery of their VF8s before the end of December 2022.
American consumers will be the first outside of Vietnam to experience the VF8. Following the first batch of vehicles for the U.S. market, VinFast’s next batch of deliveries are destined for Canada and Europe in early 2023. The company claims it has over 65,000 global orders for the VF8 and the larger, three-row VF9, which will also begin deliveries in early 2023.
Exporting the first Vietnamese-made VF8 models is a major milestone for the country of Vietnam, as well as for VinFast. It’s the first time a Vietnamese-made vehicle will be offered on the world market, and a signal the country’s decades-old automotive industry is ready to graduate to the world stage.
VinFast VF8 With 292-Mile Range
On paper, the VinFast VF8 is a very appealing package. Thanks to its efficient packaging, it has similar room in its five-seater cabin to a Honda Pilot or Volkswagen Atlas, on a maneuverable footprint. All VF8s come packed with advanced driver assistance technologies, such as highway assist, automatic lane change assist, smart parking assistant, and more. VinFast also has an excellent suite of in-car entertainment features like voice control, video games, and more. Over-the-air updates will provide regular updates.
Two versions of the VF8 are available – Eco and Eco Plus. The Eco version has a single electric motor with 348 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque, and a manufacturer-targeted range of up to 292 miles (the EPA has yet to release official range estimates). Upgrade to the Eco Plus and you get twin motors, all-wheel drive, 402 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque. Accelerating from 0-60 mph takes just 5.3 seconds in the Eco Plus. Like all electric cars, the VF8 has the ability to instantly achieve maximum torque for impressive acceleration, smooth running, and a completely different driving experience.
VinFast also claims that the VF8 will achieve top safety ratings for its class, with a design targeted to score five starts on the standard NHTSA crash tests. It also has 11 airbags, and its driver assistance technologies like collision warning and mitigation will provide drivers with the tools necessary to avoid accidents in the first place.
Battery Subscription Option
VinFast will be one of the first electric car brands to offer customers a battery subscription option, which reduces the car’s base price, and has the potential to allow battery upgrades in the future, as new technology provides increased range and power. VinFast also takes on the responsibility battery repairs, maintenance, and replacement costs to provide a worry-free experience for the life of the vehicle.
Should you choose the battery subscription option, the VF8 starts at an MSRP of $42,200 before federal, regional, and local incentives, with an additional $169/month for a battery subscription. If you choose to purchase the battery as well, the VF8 starts at an MSRP of $57,000. The vehicle and battery also comes with an excellent 10-year, 125,000-mile limited warranty. See dealer for limited warranty disclosure.
More Models to Come
After the VF8, the next VinFast model we will see in the U.S. is the VF9, a large three-row SUV with comparable interior space to the Toyota Sequoia or Chevrolet Suburban – but on a more compact footprint. VF9 pricing starts at an MSRP of $57,500 before incentives, plus $219/month for the battery subscription, or $76,000 all-in. VinFast claims the VF9 packs a maximum power of 402 hp, with an estimated maximum range of 369 miles.
There are more models to come, as well. VinFast has already announced plans for a subcompact VF5, a compact VF6, and a mid-size VF7 SUV; reservations for these models, like the VF8 and VF9, will be taken online on the company’s website. The company also plans to offer its vehicles through other innovative channels. At the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2022, VinFast announced a partnership with Autonomy, the largest car subscription service in the U.S.
