VinFast launches Aussie-influenced EVs
The ambitious Vietnamese electric vehicle start-up VinFast has rolled out its first two export models for developed markets, the VF e35 mid-sized hatchback and large VF e36 wagon.
Revealed at the Los Angeles auto show, they will go on-sale in selected markets including the USA and Western Europe by late 2022.
There is no word on whether either or both these models will comes to Australia.
Australian automotive engineering talent primarily drawn from now defunct Holden was involved to some extent in the development of the e35 and e36 and intrinsic to the development of the VF e34 small car which is already on-sale in Vietnam.
VinFast also established a research and development centre in Melbourne close to the old Holden HQ to speed development of its EV range and even purchased the old Holden Lang Lang pricing ground as well.
But citing COVID complications, VinFast shut the R&D centre early this year and more recently placed Lang Lang up for sale.
But none of that was among the talking points in LA, where VinFast’s new boss Michael Lohscheller – ex-VW and Opel – spruiked the brand and the cars.
“As many of you know the company is just over four years old,” he said.
“But in that short time, we like to think that we have been boundless, we have broken the mould of how an
automaker should think, how it should operate, and how it should design for the customer.
“The VF e35 and e36 are remarkable electric vehicles.
“They are SUVs that will include advanced features and standards for safety, comfort and entertainment. They will be extremely competitive in their class from an amenities, experience and cost point of view.”
The two-row e35 measures up at 4.75m long by 1.9m wise and 1.66m high. It will come with two battery options offering a claimed 460km or 510km range. There will be a 150kW/320Nm single motor and a dual motor all-wheel drive e35 Plus producing 300kW/640Nm. VinFast is targeting a 5.5 second 0-100km/h time.
The three-row e36 measures up at 5.12m long, 2.0m wide and 1.72m high. Iwo battery options will offer a claimed 485km or 680km range, while its dual motor system has the same outputs as the e35. That equates to a targeted 6.5 second 0-100km/h time.
They are targeting five-star Euro NCAP crash test performance and will come with 11 airbags including front-middle, a suite of driver assist systems and smart service features including virtual assistant, remote control, video games and location-based and behavioural advertising (is that a good or bad feature?).
Both cars are styled by Pininfarina. In some markets petrol engines will also be offered.
The cars will be sold using a Tesla-like direct marketing model and will be built at a giant new factory at Hai Phong in Vietnam. A US plant could follow by 2024.
VinFast is owned by Vietnam’s richest man, Pham Nhat Vuong, and is part of the much larger VinGroup conglomerate. It says it plans to float in the USA within a few years.
