Vietnamese electric vehicle startup VinFast finally kicked off the shipments of its new sub-$13,000 VF 3 mini electric SUV on Thursday, according to Nikkei Asia.
VinFast disrupts EV market with sub-$13K VF 3
VinFast VF 3 shipments are finally underway, stimulating significant customer interest due to its competitive pricing of only about $12,800 (322 million dong). VinFast even called it a “social media phenomenon” ahead of official shipments.
VinFast initially unveiled the mini electric SUV in January 2024, marketing it as a suitable city travel option that is “not only sustainable but also more accessible.”
The company formally started accepting pre-orders four months after debuting for about $9,248 (235 million dong) for the battery subscription model. The VF 3 with battery pack followed between May 13-15 for $12,400 (315 million dong).
Interested buyers can also acquire the VF 3 for a $2,000-$2,750 (-70 million dong) down payment under an 8-year financing term.
Impressively, the new mini electric SUV accumulated a total of 27,649 pre-orders in just the first 66 hours.
After the abovementioned special introductory prices, the VF 3 now starts at around $12,800 (322 million dong).
2024 delivery target
VinFast set a target of selling at least 20,000 VF 3 mini electric SUVs in 2024 as it continues to ramp up production.
VinFast aims to kick off the VF 3’s rollout in its home market, followed by the Philippines later this year. Other key markets, including Europe, Southeast Asia, and the United States, will follow in 2025.
In total, VinFast aims to sell at least 80,000 electric vehicles in 2024. It indicates a notable drop from its prior 100,000 EV sales target. Nonetheless, it would still yield a more than twofold increase from just nearly 35,000 unit deliveries in 2023.
About the VinFast VF 3
Presented below are the key specs of the VinFast VF 3:
Items | VinFast VF 3 |
Battery Type | Lithium-ion |
Battery Capacity | 18.64 kWh |
Number Of Motors | 1 |
DC Charging | (10-70%) In 36 Minutes |
Motor Type | Permanent Magnet Synchronous |
Emission | 0 g/km |
Fuel Type | Electric |
Power | 50 hp |
Torque | 110 Nm |
Driving Range | 210 km |
0 to 50 km/h acceleration | 5.3 seconds |