- The VinFast VF6 is open for reservations in France, Germany and The Netherlands.
- It starts at about $36,000 for the Eco model, which gets a 201-horsepower motor and 59.6 kWh LFP battery.
- VinFast says the car is good for up to 254 miles of range. (WLTP cycle)
Y’know, kudos to VinFast. Despite having one of the worst-reviewed cars in recent memory, which led to the Vietnamese startup having some of the slowest-selling models on the market, it hasn’t given up on its electric vehicle plans. The VF8 has gone through some improvements, which supposedly has made it tolerable to use. Its once missing-in-action VF9 three-row crossover is finally making its way to U.S. dealerships.
Similarly, VinFast just announced that its Chevy Bolt-sized VinFast VF6 is headed to Europe. This product announcement is a little more important than just yet another weird brand selling another small EV in Europe. VinFast wants this car to democratize EVs, and it thinks the VF6 could be a tool to get Europeans behind the wheel of reasonably priced EVs.
Photo by: Vinfast
We really don’t know too much about the VF6 just yet, though. It was initially shown off as a preproduction concept about three years ago, but it looks like VinFast has stayed fairly close to that model. And yes, the VF6 is a real car; it’s been on Vietnamese roads for the past few months, rolling around in the hands of Vietnamese customers.
There are already a handful of Vietnamese-language videos and articles reviewing the VF6, but no media has really got their hands on the car outside of Vietnam.
Mechanically, the VF6 will be powered by a 201-horsepower motor powering the front wheels. The VF6’s 59.6 kWh LFP battery is good for 254 miles of range, based on the WLTP cycle. The car’s guts seem semi sophisticated though, since it uses a fully independent multi-link rear suspension rather than a semi-independent torsion beam commonly found on other cheap small EVs.
It’s interesting to note that in the press release the brand sent over, VinFast harped on EV affordability. It quoted Boston Consulting Group, saying that “the democratization of EVs depends on their ability to build an affordable B-segment for the European market.” It also said that 27% of all European cars are in this B-segment (subcompact), yet the electric offerings there are slim.
Currently, the VF6 is already open for reservations in France, Germany and The Netherlands, starting at just shy of $36,000 (33,900€). It wouldn’t be the cheapest EV in the segment, though. Cars like the Leapmotor T03 or Dacia Spring undercut the VF6 by a huge margin, but they’re much smaller cars with a lot less power and range. The new Ford Puma Gen-E is the same size class as VinFast’s VF6, and it is only slightly more expensive. But its 233-mile range means it can’t go as far. Could VinFast have a right-priced, right-sized hit on its hands here?
Vinfast VF6 at the 2022 Paris Motor Show
Maybe so. The VinFast VF6 could end up being a stealth hit in Europe for one reason: it is Vietnamese. Therefore, it’s not subject to double-digit anti-Chinese tariffs the EU has leveled against imported electric vehicles from China. Similarly, I think the VF6 could also be a surprise hit here in America. The VF6 (and VF7) genuinely appear to be better-executed products than the VF8. These products would be cheap, which should mean that buyers would be more willing to overlook a product’s shortcomings since it wouldn’t cost too much to buy.
I remain cautiously optimistic. If VinFast can keep its quality in check, and deliver a satisfying driving experience, then the brand may have a future after all.
Contact the author: [email protected]