Vinfast could eventually offer an electric pickup -executive
By Ben Klayman
DETROIT (Reuters) – Vietnamese electrical automobile startup Vinfast may finally enter the electrical pickup truck market, a high U.S. government mentioned on Thursday.
Vinfast, a unit of Vietnam’s Vingroup conglomerate, is concentrated on launching gross sales of its electrical SUVs within the U.S. market later this yr, however its automobile platform permits for enlargement into different varieties of automobiles, Craig Westbrook, chief service officer for Vinfast U.S., mentioned at an Automotive Press Affiliation occasion in Detroit.
“We wish to serve the wants of the market,” he mentioned in response as to if Vinfast would ever look to promote an electrical pickup. “If we resolve that is what the market wants and that matches our model particularly, and I believe it completely may, yeah. It is one thing we must always contemplate.”
Ford Motor Co, Rivian and Common Motors Co presently promote electrical pickup vans, and Tesla plans to start manufacturing of its Cybertruck pickup in mid-2023.
Vinfast started constructing EVs in Vietnam on the finish of final yr and is concentrating on a shift to all-electric manufacturing by 2023.
The corporate’s plans to start automobile manufacturing at a plant in North Carolina stay on observe for July 2024, Westbrook mentioned. Vinfast plans to open the U.S. plant with an annual capability of 150,000 automobiles, constructing the VF8 and VF9 SUVs.
Vinfast has nearly 8,000 reservation for its SUVs in the US, and between 40,000 and 50,000 globally, together with Vietnam, Europe and Canada, he mentioned.
The VF8 and VF9 automobiles could have beginning costs of $40,700 and $55,500, respectively, however that excludes the fee to lease the electrical battery, Westbrook mentioned. A closing value on the battery lease has not been set, however will begin “within the low $100s” a month, he mentioned.
Beginning in 2024, Vinfast may also provide the choice of shopping for the battery with the automobile, Westbrook mentioned. The corporate expects customers will break up evenly between leasing and shopping for.
(Reporting by Ben Klayman in Detroit; enhancing by David Evans)
