VinFast has announced it will return to the 2022 LA Auto Show later this month. The Vietnamese car company, which plans to sell the VF 8 and VF 9electric SUVs in America, will offer showgoers a chance to get up close and personal with the models above and its smaller models.
US-based consumers will be able to explore the VF 6 and VF 7 for the first time and sample the exterior and interior details up close. The marque will also allow attendees to experience the VF 8 on the test track area at the auto show.
"Returning to the LAAS 2022 after one year of revealing our EV brand, we want to show global audiences that the future of mobility is about to become a reality, and VF 8 vehicles are about to be delivered to customers all over the world," said company chairwoman, Le Thi Thu Thuy.
Earlier this year, the automaker announced it would end production of all its ICE vehicles by 2023 to focus on the fledgling electric vehicle market.
The strategy has paid off, and the company has reportedly obtained more than 65,000 global reservations for the VF 8 and VF 9 so far. Deliveries of the former have already commenced in Vietnam, with international markets expected to receive the EV before year-end.
"VinFast offers diverse options to consumers, helping them easily access high-quality electric vehicles, reasonable prices, and excellent service to move toward a greener and more sustainable future," added chairwoman Thi Thu Thuy.
The company's battery leasing system is rather interesting. Prices vary between $35 and $44 p/m and permit owners to drive up to 310 miles each month. Nothing's stopping you from driving greater distances, but you'll be charged an additional $0.15 for every mile traveled over the limit.
Some have questioned the left-field battery leasing program, but VinFast says the service provides customers peace of mind. Not only do the batteries come with a lifetime warranty, but the company will replace the unit - at no cost - once capacity drops below 70%.
And to show the automotive world its intent on succeeding in the USA, VinFast announced in March that it would build an electric vehicle manufacturing plant in North Carolina. Production of the factory is expected to commence in July 2024, with 150,000 cars to be assembled in the first year. Both VF 8 and VF 9 models are expected to be built at the new facility.
It's not just electric vehicles that VinFast is interested in, however. Like BMW and Toyota, the Vietnamese brand is also exploring hydrogen power and has already previewed the Pininfarina-designed NamX concept at the Paris Motor Show.
Once a maker of reskinned BMWs, VinFast is poised to take the EV market by storm and could prove a real challenger for established brands like Tesla.