VinFast seems to be succeeding in its expansion ventures beyond its home market, Vietnam. Apart from a new partnership with E.ON Drive, the EV maker successfully obtained an indicative Corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Assessment score of 23.3 from Morningstar Sustainalytics in Europe last year.
Among the 70 all-electric vehicle companies, VinFast ranked 9th on the ESG rating of lowest potential risk. Notably, the ESG research, ratings, and data company considered the following categories in conducting the assessment:
· carbon – product, and services
· carbon-own operations
· human rights – supply chain
· corporate governance
· human capital
· product governance
· business ethics
Based on the results, VinFast landed in the “medium risk category,” a significant milestone for the foreign automaker.
What’s the big deal?
The ESG criteria is a well-acknowledged validation method that guides stakeholders in wisely deciding on matters related to investments or acquiring stocks based on the company’s ESG: environmental impact, social responsibility, and corporate governance practices. That said, the EU places a great deal of importance on ESG.
Partnership with E.ON Drive
As if the ESG score is not enough, VinFast delivered another good news on February 9. As per the announcement, it has formed a partnership with E.ON Drive.
The deal commits the UK-based EV charging network to provide AC and DC charging stations for VinFast’s first service centers and dealerships throughout Germany, France, and the Netherlands.
The partners will deploy the charging points in a phased manner. Some 200 AC and DC (150 kW) charging outlets are plotted for the first phase. It includes custom charging infrastructures that will enable both private and public charging access.
“We look forward to supporting VinFast as a promising player in the fast-growing EV market as it enters and builds up in Europe. With the E.ON Drive charging solutions, we are making it radically simple for customers to drive and charge, starting from the first point of contact at VinFast locations.”
Mathias Wiecher, E.ON Drive’s CCO
In retrospect, the first VinFast charging station in the Netherlands was previously set up by E.ON subsidiary Vandebron earlier this year. Vietnam’s first global EV maker has already launched 13 of the proposed 50 stores in Frankfurt, Munich, Oberhausen, Paris, Cologne, Berlin, and Amsterdam.
Even more, the company plans to further expand its retail and service network in the European market this year. VinFast’s upcoming “worry-free” battery and charging package is yet another exciting offer for its European consumers.
“Understanding the importance of charging to electric vehicle users, we are delighted to cooperate with leading utilities companies like E.ON Drive to electrify VinFast’s retail network as well as to develop a comprehensive charging solution for European customers. We believe that E.ON Drive’s expertise and technological capabilities will help VinFast quickly realize its goal of accelerating the electrified mobility revolution in Europe and around the world.”
CEO of VinFast Europe’s CEO, Ho Thanh Huong
