2024
VinFast VF 9

It has a unique twist on pricing, with a battery subscription tailored to the buyer’s expected usage. The company explains it this way: “By separating the price of the battery from the acquisition value of the automobile, VinFast takes on all the risks related to the vehicle’s battery and ensures a reasonable price for its products, while providing customers with peace of mind about the battery’s quality during use.”

The costs may be confusing to buyers. There are two plans, one called the Flexible Plan, which VinFast says is designed for motorists who drive infrequently. The first 310 miles each month are covered by the plan—with monthly fees at $44, every mile over 310 costs $.15, the unlimited-mileage monthly plan costs $160.

A key upside to their battery approach is that VinFast provides a lifetime battery warranty covering all maintenance and repair costs, and will replace the battery for free when charging capacity dips below 70 percent. This should reduce some concerns among shoppers.

The company also announced a partnership with Electrify America that will allow customers to begin charging as soon as they plug into an Electrify America network EV charger. Payment will be handled through the VinFast Plug & Charge app, which the automaker says will process payments securely without having to swipe a credit card or juggle other apps.

From a styling perspective, VinFast’s SUVs are attractive, if somewhat conventional. What sets them apart is an LED spear on the front end that dips into a notable “V.” The taillights are tied to one another with a heckblende—a strip of shiny black plastic with a big chrome “V” badge at the center—that mimics the shape of the headlights. The smaller VF 8 has a standard small crossover profile, and the larger VF 9 has the more boxy station wagon-esque shape traditional large SUVs have had for years.

The interior follows the minimalist trend many manufacturers have copied since Tesla made it cool with its EVs. Based on a brief ride at the New York auto show, the cabin is quiet, the seats are comfy, and the door openings allow easy access.

The dashboard is spare, with a single 15-inch touch screen and a pair of air vents mounted in the center, just above the console, which features push-button gear selector controls. There is a head-up display in front of the driver.

The automaker says that the voice-activated Amazon Alexa virtual assistant will be available in the car, and that there will be more than 30 AI features used to power interaction between the driver and the infotainment computer.

The seats in the Plus trim are heated and ventilated, and upholstered in attractive leather. The Eco version gets synthetic leather seats. The Plus trim also comes with auto-dimming mirrors, a foot-activated power liftgate, an 8-inch infotainment screen in the second row, and a panoramic sunroof. The VF 9 has a third row with seating for seven passengers, although the Plus version is available with second-row captain’s chairs that bring passenger capacity down to six.

VinFast hasn’t yet specified cargo volume numbers for either model, or whether Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will be available.