- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr He Ar
VinFast intends to quickly defeat everyone
The new automaker has made a debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The brand bears the promising name VinFast (consonant with ‘Win fast’). This is a Vietnamese company. The brand’s philosophy is no less ambitious: “VinFast embodies the pride, spirit and perseverance of the Vietnamese people”.
Stages of a long journey
VinFast is the first Vietnamese automaker. The company was founded in 2017 by the entrepreneur Pham Nhat Vuong. This is the first dollar billionaire from Vietnam, who was educated in Moscow (Russian State Geological Prospecting University) and earned his first capital in the production of instant noodles, and then switched to other activities. The first prototypes were presented in September 2018 at the Paris Motor Show, and they began to be sold in Vietnam next spring. The Paris debutants feature a 2-liter N20 turbocharged petrol engine and an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission.
The Vietnamese brand intends to conquer the global market. Thus, it’s going to supply its vehicles to the USA, Canada, Europe and Russia. The brand models are based on licensed technologies: the Vinfast Lux A2.0 Sedan is based on the BMW 5-series chassis of the F10 generation (2010-2017), and the Vinfast Lux SA2.0 SUV is based on the BMW X5 (F15) (2013-2018). The new models were designed by Pininfarina and Italdesign studios (Italy). In the domestic market, the company offers the Vinfast Fadil Hatchback based on the Chevrolet Spark.
VinFast embodies the pride, spirit and perseverance of the Vietnamese people
In 2021, the company experienced great success: Pham Nyat Vuong became the richest man in his homeland. Moreover, the entrepreneur carries on bringing his brainchild to the world market. Thus, the company has already created an engineering center in Germany and a testing ground in Australia, built a plant in California and hired Michael Lohscheller, former Opel CEO. In the first half of 2022, the company’s vehicles will appear in Germany, France and the Netherlands.
VinFast electric models
The manufacturer unveiled completely different vehicles at the Los Angeles Auto Show, namely the VF e35 and VF e36 electric SUVs, built on their own platform. The models’ exterior was designed by the Pininfarina studio. The VF e35 is a mid-size SUV (4,750 mm long), whereas the VF e36 is a full-size SUV. The manufacturer will start producing these vehicles in Vietnam in February 2022, but only time will tell whether everything works out.
The new VinFast VF e35 is a direct competitor to the Tesla Model Y, previously presented as the VF32 (length – 4,750 mm, wheelbase – 2,950 mm). It is powered by a 90 kW/h battery pack (enough for 400 km). The vehicle has a simple version with one motor generating 204 hp and 320 Nm and an all-wheel drive version with two motors (408 hp and 640 Nm).
The VinFast VF e36 is a full-size, three-row SUV (body length – 5,120 mm and wheelbase – 3,150 mm, so beware, Tesla Model X!). In January, we could see it in the photo under the index VF33. It has only two motors and, accordingly, all-wheel drive (the same 408 hp), and 106 kW/h batteries will provide a driving range of up to 560 km. The electric vehicle boasts a multimedia system with a 15.4-inch screen, matrix LED headlights and a third-level autopilot.
