Vietnamese automaker Vinfast last week said it had shipped the first batch of 999 VF 8 electric SUVs to the US, with the first deliveries coming before the end of the calendar year.
According to the company’s press release, these electric vehicles leave Hai Phong, Vietnam on November 25 for an expected 20-day trip to California, where they will be unloaded and sent to customers. . After delivering the first batch of cars to the US market, Vinfast plans to start delivering the VF 8 in Canada in Europe in early 2023.
Vinfast said that the VF 8 will be marketed by the larger VF 9, which will begin shipping in Vietnam and other markets in the first quarter of 2023, while confirming the delay time was first suggested. first in September, when The first 100 VF 8 electric SUVs has been handed over to customers in this car company’s home market.
Vinfast VF8
In the same statement, Vinfast noted that it signed an agreement with subscription service Autonomy at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show for 2,500 VF 8 and VF 9 models, but did not specify whether any cars from Will the first shipment follow that order or not. Vinfast seems to be one of 17 car manufacturers Autonomy booked from, a total of 23,000 vehicles.
The VF 8 is 187.0 inches long, 76.1 inches wide, and 65.6 inches tall. It debuted in Eco and Plus forms, both with dual-motor all-wheel drive. The Eco version makes 349 hp and about 369 lb-ft of torque, while the Plus makes 402 hp and about 457 lb-ft of torque. On the European/global WLTP cycle, Vinfast claims a range of up to 260 miles for the Eco and up to 248 miles for the Plus.
Like models for the Vietnamese market, Vinfast is expected to offer a number of driver assistance features in the US, including highway assist, automatic lane change assist, and parking. auto and summon feature. Vinfast also has a Smart Services package, which includes an app and features such as voice recognition, in-car online shopping and video games.
Vinfast VF8
Vinfast’s time in the US is really fast. It established its headquarters in the US last November and that same month showed off the first prototypes of the VF 8 and VF 9, later named VF e35 and VF e36 respectively. A prototype drive shows the VF 8 has a long way to go, but the company continued to grow rapidly, ramping up production and opening its first retail stores in the United States in July, in California. Vinfast said it will expand its retail reach to other states in the future.
And while the first deliveries to the US are coming from Vietnam, Vinfast is planning to build a factory in North Carolina to start building the VF 8 and VF 9 electric vehicles for the US market. from 2024. The company received $1.2 billion in factory incentives, in what it claims is the largest economic incentive package ever from North Carolina.
In addition to VF 8 and VF 9, Vinfast said that it will soon start to pre-order the smaller VF 5, VF 6 and VF 7 models. Cooperation with Chinese battery supplier CATL can mean more electric vehicles for emerging markets also.
