Calling all electric vehicle (EV) fans! A new brand is entering the Canadian market. In this article, we’ll introduce you to VinFast, Vietnam’s first global automotive manufacturer.
What is VinFast?
Based in Vietnam, VinFast LLC is a private automotive company. It’s part of a larger conglomerate organization known as Vingroup, founded by Phạm Nhật Vượng. VinFast has quickly been making a name for itself since its establishment in 2017.
In 2018, the company launched its first EV model at the Paris Motor Show. It received tons of positive feedback and won the A Star is Born Award, presented by AUTOBEST to the automotive manufacturer with the best offering for European customers.
In 2019, VinFast launched three more EVs and three e-scooters to the Vietnam market. After outstanding success at home, VinFast broke into the global market in 2021, launching their electric SUVs: the VF 8 and the VF 9. They also released more e-scooters and an e-bus for sale in Vietnam. In 2022, VinFast opened up showrooms in the United States, Canada, Germany, and France.
VinFast Cars
Canadians can place orders for VinFast’s latest vehicles, the midsize VF 8 and the full-size VF 9 eSUVs.
On a full battery, the VF8 is expected to run for 471 km. The VF9 has a slightly higher range of up to 594 km. Both are capable of 402 hp and 457 lb.-ft of torque. The VF 8 seats five, while the VF 9 can seat up to seven.
The VF 8 and VF 9 each come with 11 safety airbags and a variety of assistive features, including these:
- traffic jam assist
- adaptive cruise control
- highway driving assist
- lane keeping assist
- blind spot detection
- automatic emergency braking
After rigorous testing, VinFast claims both vehicles will be awarded 5-star safety ratings from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the US. They also have over 30 AI-powered infotainment features to keep your passengers entertained on long journeys.
At the time of writing, the starting price of the VF 8 was $64,990. The VF 9 starts a little higher at $103,790. Both vehicles have AWD as a standard and come with a warranty of 10 years or 200,000 km.
As of December 2022, VinFast is still in discussion with the Canadian government to determine if their vehicles will be eligible for federal and provincial tax credits and incentives.
Battery Subscription
A unique offer by VinFast is its battery subscription program. Customers can choose to purchase the car without the battery and subscribe to this program instead to power their vehicle.
Canadian drivers can pay $259 per month for the VF 8 or $349 per month for the VF 9. The subscription includes a battery and grants drivers free battery repairs, maintenance, and battery replacement costs for the life of the vehicle. VinFast will replace the battery when capacity drops below 70%. There’s no limit on mileage in VinFast’s battery subscription program.
With a battery subscription, the price of the VF 8 drops to $54,990, and $79,990 for the VF 9.
Availability
The VF 8 and VF 9 eSUVs are currently available for reservation in Canada. Deliveries are expected to begin in early 2023. You can place your order online or visit a physical store.
The first VinFast store in Canada opened on November 15th, 2022, at Yorkdale Mall, in the North York district of Toronto. On December 1st, the second store opened in Québec. VinFast is planning to open at least 10 more locations across the country. For more automotive tips and news, check out our blog.