Vietnamese electric carmaker VinFast exports first EVs to the U.S.

The Vietnamese car industry accomplished a significant milestone after electric vehicle (EV) maker VinFast exported its first batch of cars.

The company announced in a November 2022 press statement that it has sent out 999 VF 8 crossovers from the MPC Port in Haiphong, Vietnam, to the United States.

The cars will travel on the Panamanian charter ship Silver Queen, with American customers expected to receive delivery of their Vietnamese EVs by December 2022.

Nguyen Viet Quang, vice chairman and CEO of VinFast parent firm Vingroup, said in a speech that the first VF 8 exports were a “proud historical milestone for the Vietnamese automotive industry.”

“It affirms that Vietnam has successfully produced high-quality-standards electric vehicles that are ready to compete in the international market,” Quang said. 

“We hope that, when VinFast’s smart electric vehicles roll out on the streets around the world, it will help promote the image of new, dynamic, and progressive Vietnam to the global audience,” he added.

The carmaker will also produce the VF 5 and VF 6 subcompact crossovers, along with the VF 7 compact crossover.

Up to 407 PS and 470 km of range

The VF 8 is a five-seat midsize crossover with two variants: Eco and Plus.

The U.S. version of the VF 8 Eco is powered by dual electric motors that pump out 353 PS and 499 Nm of torque with a maximum range of 470 kilometers.

Meanwhile, the VF 8 Plus gets 407 PS and 620 Nm of torque with a maximum range of 446 kilometers.

The VF 9 is a three-row, midsize crossover that also comes in Eco and Plus variants.

Both models have 407 PS and 620 Nm of torque, with the Plus model getting second-row captain seats and a maximum range of 579 kilometers.

Numerous global orders

VinFast has received 65,000 global orders for the VF 8 and VF 9, including a contract to supply units to Autonomy, the largest car-subscription service in the U.S.

The carmaker said it will deliver VF 8s to customers in Europe and Canada by early 2023, while people who ordered the VF 9 can expect their cars by March 2023.

The U.S. export batch also points to warmer commercial ties between the United States and Vietnam, which share a complicated history.

The United States supported South Vietnam against communist North Vietnam in a brutal war from 1954 to 1975.

The U.S. withdrew its participation in the conflict by 1973, with South Vietnam eventually falling to North Vietnam in 1975. 

The United States and Vietnam resumed diplomatic relations in 1995.

Do you think the Philippines could one day join the global EV car market, too?