The VinFast VF 8 has set sail from Vietnam for U.S. shores, the Vietnamese automaker introduced late final week. The primary cargo of 999 fashions of the VF 8 mid-size electrical SUV is because of attain a port in California in December and might be delivered to prospects earlier than the 12 months is out, VinFast stated.

VinFast’s inroads to the U.S. market have been remarkably quick. It was solely in 2018 that VinFast unveiled its first mannequin, however lower than 5 years later the corporate has already made the change to electrical autos and the VF 8 arrives within the U.S. at a time of surging curiosity for electrical crossover SUVs. Extra VinFast fashions will comply with. 

The 999 VF 8s are the primary batch of greater than 65,000 orders from prospects exterior of Vietnam. Exports to different markets, together with Canada and Europe, are scheduled to start in early 2023, VinFast stated. That is additionally when VinFast will begin exports of its full-size VF 9 electrical SUV.

The VF 8 is priced from $42,200 and the VF 9 from $57,500, when ordered with a battery subscription. On this case, consumers could have to join a month-to-month subscription lasting the lifetime of the car, which is $169 for the VF 8 and $219 for the VF 9. Patrons may select to purchase the autos with the battery value included, through which case the VF 8 is priced from $57,000 and the VF 9 from $76,000.

Each autos provide as much as 402 hp, all-wheel drive, a spread approaching 300 miles or extra, and a 10-year/125,000-mile guarantee.

Past the VF 8 and VF 9, VinFast plans so as to add smaller VF 5, VF 6, and VF 7 crossovers. All 5 autos had been introduced collectively for the primary time in the course of the 2022 Shopper Electronics Present in January.

VinFast’s principal plant is positioned in Hai Phong, Vietnam, although the corporate in March introduced plans for a plant in Chatham County, North Carolina. The U.S. plant, which is scheduled to come back on-line in 2024 with an preliminary annual capability of 150,000 autos, might be used for each car and battery manufacturing. The primary autos would be the VF 8 and VF 9, and the native manufacturing will garner tax credit.

Not like different new corporations promising to carry EVs to the market, VinFast has deep pockets. It is a part of Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup, which makes a speciality of building and actual property growth however can be concerned in agriculture, healthcare, retail, tourism and quite a few different sectors. Vingroup founder Pham Nhat Vuong pledged $2 billion of his personal fortune to see VinFast turn out to be a globally acknowledged firm.