VinFast has experienced some challenges with its VF 8 electric SUV, but the Vietnamese automaker is forging ahead with plans for more models. At the CES 2024 event, they revealed an electric pickup truck concept and announced that the smaller VF 3 will be available worldwide.
The VF 3 was first shown in June 2023, with plans to sell it initially only in Vietnam. This compact two-door, four-seat vehicle measures 122.5 inches in length, making it shorter than a Mini Cooper. It’s equipped with a 10.0-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and it aims to achieve over 125 miles of range per the EPA’s testing cycle. Although this range may not seem very high, VinFast plans to compensate by offering a low base price. Specific pricing details and the timeline for a U.S. release will be announced later. VinFast did mention that it will start accepting early reservations later this year.
Introducing the VF Wild, an electric truck concept that is comparable in size to midsize pickups like the Ford Ranger, measuring 209.0 inches in length and 79.0 inches in width. This makes it significantly smaller than the typical electric trucks currently on the market, such as Ford’s F-150 Lightning or the Chevrolet Silverado EV. The VF Wild features a smart midgate, similar to the Chevy, allowing the bed length to extend from 5.0 feet to 8.0 feet by folding down the rear seats. VinFast has not shared any production plans for this vehicle yet.
VinFast’s efforts to sell electric cars in the U.S. have encountered some difficulties. Initially, the company planned to start deliveries of the VF 8 in December 2022, but the first cars didn’t reach customers until March 2023. The initial VF 8 City Edition models were also heavily criticized by reviewers. Additionally, VinFast’s original plan to offer a battery-leasing scheme, which might have added value to its vehicles, was abandoned before sales began.
Despite these setbacks, VinFast is continuing to move forward. The next model in their lineup will be the VF 9, a three-row electric SUV that boasts a 330-mile range. Following that, there will be the VF 6 and VF 7 SUVs, which will fall between the VF 8 and VF 3 in size. Some of these future models will be manufactured at a $2 billion factory in North Carolina, projected to have an annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles and slated to open in 2025.