Automaker VinFast has debuted three new battery-electric crossover fashions, together with two which will likely be offered in Canada, and an modern battery leasing program designed to mitigate upfront buying prices.

The Vietnam-based startup unveiled its new VF5, VF6 and VF7 crossovers at CES 2022 in Las Vegas final week, with the VF6 and VF7 fashions set to reach in Canada in late 2023. The VF6 is a two-row subcompact crossover, whereas the VF7 is a barely bigger two-row compact crossover.

VinFast additionally confirmed title modifications this week for its two-row VF e35 and three-row VF e36 crossovers, unveiled eventually yr’s Los Angeles Auto Present. The VF e35 will now be known as the VF8 and the bigger e36 will likely be known as the VF9. The corporate confirmed beforehand the e35 and e36 can be the primary VinFast fashions supplied on the market in Canada, with the primary examples set to reach right here earlier than the top of the yr.

U.S. pre-orders for the VF8 and VF9 opened this week, nonetheless Canadian pre-orders gained’t open till later this yr. 

Hans Ulsrud, Chief Progress Officer of VinFast Canada, informed Automotive Information Canada pre-orders for these two preliminary fashions will seemingly open earlier than the top of the primary quarter. Pre-orders for the VF6 and VF7 is not going to open till early subsequent yr.

VinFast costs American prospects a totally refundable deposit of US$200 USD to order their automobile. The corporate has not disclosed how a lot the Canadian deposit price will likely be.

American VinFast prospects that place their pre-order between Jan. 5 and April 5, 2022 will likely be robotically signed up for the automaker’s VinFirst Pioneers early chicken program. These prospects will obtain e-vouchers that they’ll then use towards the acquisition worth of their automobile, which complete US$3,000 for the VF8 and US$5,000 for the VF9. Prospects may also obtain a VinFirst non-fungible token saved on a cryptocurrency pockets, which permits VinFast to avoid wasting reservation holders’ data utilizing blockchain expertise. 

Ulsrud hopes to supply an identical NFT-based early chicken rewards program to Canadian patrons as soon as pre-orders open later this yr.

“We’ll clearly provide the identical advantages to Canadian shoppers and VinFast Pioneers,” Ulsrud stated. “So, we’ll take international alternate into consideration in addition to among the different advantages. We need to guarantee Canadians are handled pretty similar to the People.”

VinFast introduced U.S. pricing for the VF8 and VF9 this week, as properly. The VF8 will begin at US$41,000, whereas the VF9 is priced from US$56,000. 

These costs don’t embrace the price of the corporate’s modern battery leasing program, which is able to cost prospects a month-to-month price to lease the automobile’s battery pack – permitting patrons to sidestep among the upfront buy prices of an EV. The leased battery would even be robotically changed underneath guarantee if its cost capability falls under 70 per cent of its unique energy.

VinFast has not introduced Canadian pricing for any of its automobiles. Nevertheless, Ulsrud stated the battery leasing program would carry over. Specifics of the battery leasing program for North America, together with month-to-month rental charges and kilometre limits, are nonetheless being finalized.

VinFast plans to promote its automobiles in Canada via a direct-to-consumer gross sales mannequin, with plans to open three retail areas in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver this yr.