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VINFAST - 4 EV models - incredible display at the 2022 LA Auto Show. Tesla sales model but a direct competitor!

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As @jzchen noted about his interest on the VINFAST I got a chance to see them at the LA Auto Show compliments of Ford Lightning marketing that sent 2 tickets for admission to the show.

I love this newcomer to the EV field and a direct competitor to Tesla!
Spoke to 2 reps who were very knowledgeable.

VINFAST is manufacturer to consumer direct sales (same as Tesla model).
No independent franchised dealers to deal with.

At the show all 4 models: VF6, VF7, VF8 and VF9 were on display.
Only the VF8 and VF9 are available for ordering for 2023 delivery.

Battery sizes and model trims vary with range up to 360 miles per charge.

Manufacturing will be in North Carolina by 2024 and batteries are sourced from Samsung USA.
They are hopeful by 2024 that they will meet the full tax credit under the new IRA.

OTA updates are done to avoid having to visit a VINFAST service dept.

VINFAST is going to sweep Tesla under the rug with ALL options activated and available - no more famous Tesla upcharges / add ons for options.

Deliveries start spring 2023. Currently they have 15,000 reservation holders - about 50% VF8 and the other half VF9.

Their battery subscription service is quite appealing for those that want a lower MSRP and a monthly subscription for the leased battery w/ unlimited miles comes with free battery replacements at 70% capacity during the lifetime of the vehicle - plus they will come to you, pick up, drop off a loaner and get the battery replaced & returned to you direct.

If you do not opt for battery subscription, and just want to purchase, the cost will be higher (you own the battery), has a 10 year warranty, but requires you to drive to one of their brick and mortar stores for service.

They have 6 sales offices in California with small stores that rival that of Tesla stores in malls.

3 more CA sales offices opening up shortly.

At the show, there were test drives around a short course if you want to see how it handles.
Line was way too long...

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We arrived early because the offer for ride-along was scheduled at 8:45 for my wife a VF8 reservation holder. (She reserved back in January on the first day, and me the VF9 second day). It was absolutely not busy in the morning at 9. We were so early the ride alongside outside were not open yet only VinFast. (My wife was the only one contacted with a free ticket, but both of us got the offer to “skip the line”). They are honoring their original pricing for reservation holders that reserved up to Sept 1. After that it is the new pricing that is currently listed. At the new pricing it is debatable whether to buy the battery outright, but at the old pricing vs buying the battery (option which did not exist until recently) I think it’s a no brainer for us to just lease. I was a little bummed about the legroom in the third row seat. It was basically cushion and then floor right underneath, and my wife was disappointed by the smallish trunk).

Those EVs outside they were all ride along on the test track. We rode a whole bunch besides the VF8 (next time you go consider going at opening very little wait): ID.4, Bolt EUV, EV6, Taycan, PutOnYourBrakes Kia on rear drift caps; inside we did wait for 1500 Rebel, 4xe (plug-in Jeep). We test drove a Pacifica Plug-in “Hybrid” which was a little wait.

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We arrived early because the offer for ride-along was scheduled at 8:45 for my wife a VF8 reservation holder. (She reserved back in January on the first day, and me the VF9 second day). It was absolutely not busy in the morning at 9. We were so early the ride alongside outside were not open yet only VinFast. (My wife was the only one contacted with a free ticket, but both of us got the offer to “skip the line”). They are honoring their original pricing for reservation holders that reserved up to Sept 1. After that it is the new pricing that is currently listed. At the new pricing it is debatable whether to buy the battery outright, but at the old pricing vs buying the battery (option which did not exist until recently) I think it’s a no brainer for us to just lease. I was a little bummed about the legroom in the third row seat. It was basically cushion and then floor right underneath, and my wife was disappointed by the smallish trunk).

Those EVs outside they were all ride along on the test track. We rode a whole bunch besides the VF8 (next time you go consider going at opening very little wait): ID.4, Bolt EUV, EV6, Taycan, PutOnYourBrakes Kia on rear drift caps; inside we did wait for 1500 Rebel, 4xe (plug-in Jeep). We test drove a Pacifica Plug-in “Hybrid” which was a little wait.
I saw the VF9 and thought exactly the same as you - 3rd has small jump seats meant for kids and very short individuals.

Not meant for distance and comfort in the 3rd row, but for a local drive, it's fine - just like when I had the BMW X5 and Land Rover Discovery Sport w/ 3rd rows....

For the price point, it's a great buy!
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It will be interesting to see if Vinfast meets any of their promised delivery dates.

Or ever.

Expanding to actual manufacturing and delivery in significant numbers is a perilous time for any new auto maker.
It will be interesting to see if Vinfast meets any of their promised delivery dates.

Or ever.

Expanding to actual manufacturing and delivery in significant numbers is a perilous time for any new auto maker.
Very true, as I recall Tesla had a lot of issues when they first started up.
Very true, as I recall Tesla had a lot of issues when they first started up.
Even with experience we are still waiting on a Cybertruck!….
I also recall a semi-truck that never materialized.
I'm still watching the second incarnation of Aptera, with deposit #2. (I got #1 back.)
So I saw in the VinFast news yesterday that on or about November 25 999 VF8s were shipped to arrive around Dec 15 At Port Huenname (Please pardon my spelling). Last night my wife was sent an email that she can place an order (I believe for one of these “City Edition” with 180 mi estimated range. $49,500 after $6000 off for the ECO or $56,500 after $6000 off for the PLUS version. I’m assuming one of those on the ship. No lease available just straight purchase. ($1200 destination fee)

Good deal? Should we?
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So I saw in the VinFast news yesterday that on or about November 25 999 VF8s were shipped to arrive around Dec 15 At Port Huenname (Please pardon my spelling). Last night my wife was sent an email that she can place an order (I believe for one of these “City Edition” with 180 mi estimated range. $49,500 after $6000 off for the ECO or $56,500 after $6000 off for the PLUS version. I’m assuming one of those on the ship. No lease available just straight purchase. ($1200 destination fee)

Good deal? Should we?
Is the pricing from 2021 ?

Is the $6K off due to pre show pricing or was it to offset the lack of tax credit ?

Do they offer the leased battery option or is it buy the battery only pricing?

I got different prices on their VF8 at the LA Auto Show.


For me, since these are not eligible for the $7500 tax credit, I would wait until the North Carolina plant goes online.

At least I can get a minimum of $3750 tax credit for being made in North America under the new IRA.
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Hi Pat thank you for the input! They started taking reservations in January of this year, and my wife reserved within the first 2 hours. Timeline is we saw them at the LA Auto Show 2021, then they started taking reservations on January 5th, when my wife got hers. The next day I reserved the VF9 after convincing her. At that time it was a different price structure and incentives I believe until April/May, I forget the exact day. After that they removed the $3k off from the VF8, 6 night stay at a Vingroup Resort, and replaced it with a free level 2 charger or 3 yrs free charging. After Sept 1st there is whole new pricing, and that is probably what you got at the LA Auto Show. (My wife actually waited and waited until she could not wait anymore for end of December to early January travel plans, but gave up and we are going to Spain)…

For this City Edition it appears to be a toned down version: 1 Performance figures are not guaranteed. 2 The battery appears to be a 3rd (smaller) version that was not advertised before. So the price is lower because it is a smaller 180 mi “city” battery. It is not clear whether the 180 mi is for the ECO vs PLUS and the PLUS version is less, but I assume so.

My wife asked if the ones on the ship are already painted the various colors and the interior various colors. I said they probably have some of each and then as they run out not offer. Exterior black and white are free interior black is free. Black is the only color option interior for the ECO. Silver and Grey $700 Blue Red Orange Green $990. PLUS interior Beige Saddle Brown Blue $990.

ECO comes with 19” wheels PLUS 20”.

That’s all she wrote for options on this batch apparently.

I’m assuming it doesn’t have 348 HP that the ECO with battery 1 has. Also range is not 221 (WLTP/1.121) EPA mi, but also not the $57,000 starting price tag.
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There is a $3k incentive for ordering one from this batch and the initial $3k (certificate) that I mentioned factored in in the $6k off. For the VF9 I got a $5k certificate (that’s how I convinced my wife, in case she would consider it).

No lease option on these…

I told her I regret not converting the $200 VF9 deposit to a nonrefundable order back on or about August 15 right before the IRA bill was signed in. VinFast would subtract the $7500 from price to any person who would have otherwise qualified for the tax credit!
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There is a $3k incentive for ordering one from this batch and the initial $3k (certificate) that I mentioned factored in in the $6k off. For the VF9 I got a $5k certificate (that’s how I convinced my wife, in case she would consider it).

No lease option on these…

I told her I regret not converting the $200 VF9 deposit to a nonrefundable order back on or about August 15 right before the IRA bill was signed in. VinFast would subtract the $7500 from price to any person who would have otherwise qualified for the tax credit!
So are you going to take the plunge ?

Price point with certificate discounts is nice for sure to offset the non tax credit first round of their vehicles.

$50K sounds good with all options activated.

I'd consider it, but my Ford Mustang Mach E is arriving in January.

I have a $6000 private cash offer so it drops to $49K with a 70kWh battery.

Wife will have to decide if she likes the Mustang EV or go with a VinFast...
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We're sitting on it as of today. I feel like they're trying to sway people into buying this model (a switch and bait tactic) because they erred on the low side in their initial pricing. The pricing difference among the three different batteries is small compared to the current Mach-E I feel, although I didn't do the math, (just a feeling). Hence they made price correction to the base pricing (with lease), (as well as the lease cost itself). My son was not impressed during our ride along at the LA Auto Show. I tried to tell him that it was likely a pre-production model. I think the one that most impressed him was the Kia EV6. Genesis would not allow him to ride along (at 17 yrs old) which is a turn off to me personally. We rode so many I'm actually confused to which one was the most impressive. (One of them had really good seat cooling function).

We can't wait beyond the end of 2023 to place an order otherwise the benefits we received will expire...
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At least I can get a minimum of $3750 tax credit for being made in North America under the new IRA.
Nope.
The amount of the credit is calculated only on the value of battery materials (minimum % required increases every year)
$3,750 based on mineral content source (Cobalt, Manganese, Nickel, Lithium, etc.)
$3,750 based on battery component source (Anodes, Cathodes, etc.)

The most likely scenario is that the very limited supply of minerals and components that qualify will be in such high demand that their cost will increase enough to offset most - if not all - of the credit amount.

Final assembly in NA is indeed a requirement to qualify, but that factor in and of itself does not carry a credit amount.

Starting in 2024, additional stipulations kick in so that if even a single part in the battery pack is from an "entity of concern", that disqualifies the vehicle from getting the credit even if 99.999% of the pack value comes from qualified sources.
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We're sitting on it as of today. I feel like they're trying to sway people into buying this model (a switch and bait tactic) because they erred on the low side in their initial pricing. The pricing difference among the three different batteries is small compared to the current Mach-E I feel, although I didn't do the math, (just a feeling). Hence they made price correction to the base pricing (with lease), (as well as the lease cost itself). My son was not impressed during our ride along at the LA Auto Show. I tried to tell him that it was likely a pre-production model. I think the one that most impressed him was the Kia EV6. Genesis would not allow him to ride along (at 17 yrs old) which is a turn off to me personally. We rode so many I'm actually confused to which one was the most impressive. (One of them had really good seat cooling function).

We can't wait beyond the end of 2023 to place an order otherwise the benefits we received will expire...
At least your certificate will last till the end of 2023.

Have you visited their brick and mortar store on the west side ?

I would ask for an extended test drive for a day and see how your family feels about it.
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I had to search online hoping to find the pricing that we should get. I believe I found it. They are not going to offer the limited mileage option with additional mileage at a per mi cost, just the unlimited mileage lease. Estimated ranges listed are WLTP and I believe the conversion to EPA is WLTP/1.121 per article I found online.


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I had to search online hoping to find the pricing that we should get. I believe I found it. They are not going to offer the limited mileage option with additional mileage at a per mi cost, just the unlimited mileage lease. Estimated ranges listed are WLTP and I believe the conversion to EPA is WLTP/1.121 per article I found online.


I think I am more confused than before!

Eco, Plus, 1 and 2 batteries - wow what a complex matrix!

The links were interesting - we in the US are used to EPA instead of WLTP and NEDC range.
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Just a side comment: I have a reservation for a VF9, but since I live in the Washington DC area, I find it pretty unlikely I will get a car from them any time in the near future. Still, I hold it with hope.
I told my wife if she isn’t serious about the VF9 I’d look for someone to take it off of my hands….
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