Vietnamese electric automaker VinFast reports its significant milestone on December 20 with the successful arrival of its first 999 VF 8 electric vehicles in California, as per The Investor.
It is worth noting that the VF 8 vehicles arrived following 26 days spent aboard the Silver Queen Ocean vessel.
“Today marks a very important milestone for VinFast. Early this year in Las Vegas, we announced our lineup of all-electric SUVs and made a bold promise to deliver them to the market by the end of 2022. Today, that promise is fulfilled. Starting with this first delivery of 999 VF 8s City Edition, VinFast has made another giant step in its ongoing mission to bring all-electric transportation to everyone.”
Vingroup’s Vice Chairwoman and VinFast Singapore’s CEO, Madam Le Thi Thu Thuy
VinFast is cleared to sell EVs in the US
VinFast also announced that it had secured all the required certifications to sell its electric vehicle offerings in the United States. That said, the automaker expects to start customer deliveries by the end of December.
The following certifications have been granted to VinFast for its US operations:
- The EPA COC for importing and selling EVs in the US
- The California Air Resources Board (CARB) EO for delivering vehicles to clients in California and states that have enacted CARB regulations (14 other states and Washington DC.)
- The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
VF 8 City Edition
VinFast’s VF 8 City Edition is a limited-edition model that will only be available in the United States starting in 2022. The company claims it will allow direct client interaction with VinFast vehicles.
Promotional strategy
Remarkably, the customers will receive the following exceptional benefits:
- 10-year warranty for the vehicle
- 10 years warranty for the battery (unlimited mileage)
- 24/7 emergency roadside assistance for 10 years
Performance
The VF 8 City Edition’s 87.7 kWh battery and two-motor all-wheel drive powertrain provide an EPA range of 179 miles (288 km).
The Eco variant has an acceleration time of 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, while the Plus variant in just 5.3 seconds.
Price
The 5-seater VF 8 City Edition’s starting price is $59,000.
In retrospect, VinFast has filed an Initial Public Offering in the United States as it intends to increase sales in the global market. Notably, the Nasdaq Global Select Market will list VinFast’s common shares under the ticker symbol VFS.
Meanwhile, the timeline of VinFast’s BEV market launch in the US is inconvenient because imported vehicles will not be eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit.
