HANOI — Vietnamese electric-vehicle maker VinFast plans to ship its first EVs to Europe this yr after receiving regulatory approval, its CEO, Le Thi Thu Thuy, mentioned, because the European Union considers imposing tariffs on its Chinese language rivals.

Beneath the plan, about 3,000 of its VF8 crossovers could be delivered to France, Germany, the Netherlands and a few for Israel, within the fourth quarter from VinFast’s manufacturing facility in northern Vietnam, an individual accustomed to the plan informed Reuters.

The supply declined to be named as a result of these particulars weren’t but public.

Thuy didn’t point out the variety of VF8 SUVs to be delivered.

If fulfilled, Europe would turn into VinFast’s greatest abroad market this yr. The corporate had shipped about 2,100 EVs earlier this yr to the USA.

VinFast has been compelled to push again its European launch from the second half of 2022 due to the worldwide scarcity of semiconductors. The loss-making firm repeatedly revises its targets.

“We anticipate to ship the primary VF8 fashions to French, German and Dutch prospects within the fourth quarter of this yr,” Thuy mentioned, including the corporate’s different fashions VF6, VF7, and VF9 could be launched within the European market subsequent yr.

Vinfast’s push into Europe comes because the European Union is launching an investigation into Chinese language subsidies for electrical autos amid fears that the market shall be flooded with low cost imports from China.

Chinese language automakers, together with EV chief BYD, MG and Nio, are making ready to extend gross sales in Europe with a variety of competitively priced EVs.