VinFast, the Vietnamese electric vehicle maker has today launched a compact crossover SUV to help meet that increasing demand for new electrified transportation options.
There’s
been a steady increase in new electric vehicle manufacturers entering the
market as they work to compete with Tesla‘s popular Model Y.
Now, VinFast is here and chomping at the EV bit too. The company today unveiled its very own EV SUV, the VF 7 crossover.
Other Popular Companies who have Rolled out EV Crossover Competitors to the Tesla Model Y
BYD
Chinese EV technology has significantly improved over the years and Beijing-based BYD Ltd. (BYDDY)- which is backed by Warren Buffett- has emerged as Tesla's biggest global rival in the EV market. Most of BYD's sales are in China, where the company is among the leaders in battery electric vehicle production.
Kia and GM
Hyundai’s affiliate Kia has two electric crossover models- the Niro EV and the recently-launched EV6- to compete with the Model Y; while General Motors will launch its Chevy Equinox in 2024.
Ford
Ford has long been selling an all-electric vehicle (EV), too. In this case it's not a traditional Ford-made car but rather the Mustang Mach-E. The Mustang Mach-E Rally was revealed too at IAA Mobility in Munich, Germany!
Volvo
Next up is Volvo, which now offers the electric C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge. The former has a 226 mile range while the latter provides up to 275 miles of range on a single charge. The EX30 is Volvo’s newest and smallest SUV in its lineup; with an appealing starting price of $34,950.
Nissan
On the more frugal end of the mix, Nissan launched its Ariya Crossover/SUV in 2022 signalling a ramp up of their EV production- again sticking it directly to Tesla.
Polestar
Meanwhile, Polestar (based in Gothenburg, Sweden) is also getting deeper into producing EVs. The company's focus on high-performance vehicles will manifest itself with its crossover SUV: The Polestar 4. Polestar hopes to deliver these cars before the year's end!
Learn More: Emerging EV Manufacturers You Should Know About
The VinFast VF 7 Crossover SUV
Hailing
from Vietnam, VinFast (VFS) has released its small VF 7 compact crossover
sports utility vehicle.
First
announced back in January of this year, it took almost 11 months for the model
to arrive.
The VF 7 is the sixth SUV in VinFast’s lineup and joins the currently available VF 8 and larger VF 9 models which are sold in the United States.
The VF 7 Comes in 2 Trims
VinFast's
VF 7 is available in two trims: Base and Plus. The company said that both
feature vegan-leather seats, a 12.9-inch infotainment screen, and a heads-up
display. The gear-shift button resembles piano keys.
There are
six exterior colour options and 20-inch alloy wheels to choose from as well,
the company announced on X.
The Plus
trim has all-wheel drive and a 75.3kWh battery that offers up to 268 miles of
range in between charges. Meanwhile, the Base trim features a single electric
motor and a smaller, 59.6 kWh battery with enough juice for about 233 miles of
driving!
The VF 7 has an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) with a total of 11 basic and 15 advanced features. The basic ADAS functions include:
- adaptive cruise control,
- lane departure warning,
- forward collision warning,
- rear cross-traffic alert,
- blind-spot detection,
- door opening warning (to prevent cyclists from getting hit by a door),
- front automatic emergency braking, and
- 360 surround view monitoring
Meanwhile the other features will be updated remotely for free by VinFast in 2024. The base trim is priced at $35,000 without the battery and $41,000 with it!
The Plus version costs $41,000 without the battery and $49,000 with the battery included!
VF 7 Deliveries are Expected to Begin by February 2024
VinFast
will begin taking reservations for delivery of the VF 7 in Vietnam starting 2nd
December 2023. Customers can secure their reservation with a $2,000
non-refundable deposit.
Early
buyers will receive a discount of approximately $1,200 if purchased before
December 31. Deliveries are expected to start by February 10 in time for the
Lunar New Year.
VinFast plans to sell the VF 7 in the U.S., but no official launch date has been announced yet!
Learn More: Electric vehicle trends for 2024 and beyond
The Bottom Line
With
Tesla’s Model Y’s popularity growing by the day, you can be sure just about
every EV manufacturer – big or small – is going to jump into this space. Such
is the case with VinFast’s newest bet, the VF 7. Let's see how successful this
one becomes!