Vietnam’s VinFast closes on Aussie launch: Local patents filed for VF9 battery-powered three-row SUV
Vietnam’s VinFast has been caught patenting its 2026 VinFast VF9 with the Australian intellectual property office as it shapes up for a launch Down Under.
Yes, you may have heard of VinFast and its Australian plans before.
Owned by Vietnam’s richest man, it has previously hinted at launching locally multiple times. VinFast even established a local branch and engineering hub in Melbourne as far back as 2020 and purchased Holden’s Lang Lang proving ground.
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Bit once COVID struck it kept that office open only briefly. It has been stuck with Lang Lang despite trying to sell it several times.
There have also been some challenges internationally. Media reviews of the VF9 were scathing at the US launch and the brand has since focussed on emerging markets such as south-east Asia.
Now it looks like VinFast could finally land here after plans for the four-year-old 5.1-metre-long SUV were patented here.
Appearing to be a facelifted version of the VinFast VF9 sold elsewhere, the updated seven-seat SUV sports a new full-width LED strip up front and a new vertical slatted grille that is flanked by a pair of new LED headlamps.
More changes include a fresh front bumper, aerodynamically enhanced rims and a new rear bumper.
There is every chance this update could have been completed by the small Australian design firm GoMotiv, which is a long-term partner of VinFast.
Measuring 5119mm long, 2004mm wide, 1691mm tall and with a 3148mm wheelbase, the VF9 is longer and wider than the Kia EV9, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the Volvo EX90, so it should be pretty spacious inside.
The current EV comes equipped with a dual-motor powertrain that produces 300kW and 620Nm, which is enough for a 0-100km/h dash of 6.6 seconds. Not bad considering the large family friendly EV weighs 2900kg.
In other markets there’s the choice of either a 97kWh or 123kWh lithium-ion battery pack that provide WLTP ranges of up to 437km and 594km respectively.
Plug it in and both batteries charge at up to 160kW using DC fast charger or 11kW on AC power.
With an official unveil set to be timed for later this year, there’s no word on when the updated 2026 VinFast VF9 might be launched in Australia.
But it’s thought an announcement will be made before the end of this year following the reveal of the facelifted model.
