VinFast’s official entry into the Indian market, which marks a major development in the electric vehicle landscape here.
VinFast, the Vietnamese car brand from the Vingroup conglomerate, has launched its VF6 and VF7 electric SUVs. The VF6 is introduced at an attractive price of ₹16,49,000, while the VF7 starts at ₹20,89,000.
Here’s an overview of the VinFast VF 6 and VF 7 models:
VinFast VF 6 Range:
The VF 6 is equipped with a 59.6kWh battery pack. The Wind base variant offers a claimed range of 463km, while the Earth variant and above have a claimed range of 468km.
VinFast VF 7 Range:
The VF 7 Earth variant has a claimed range of 438km, the Sky variant offers 510km, and the Wind variant provides a 532km claimed range.
VinFast VF 6 Rivals:
The VinFast VF 6 enters the midsize EV segment, competing with models such as the Mahindra BE 6, Tata Curvv EV, MG ZS EV, and the Hyundai Creta Electric.
VinFast VF 7 Colour Options
The VF 7 is available in six exterior color options: Jet Black, Desat Silver, Infinity Blanc, Crimson Red, Zenith Grey, and Urban Mint.
This move underscores India’s importance to VinFast’s global expansion strategy, as highlighted by Pham Sanh Chau, CEO of VinFast Asia, who stated, “For us, India is not just another market, but essential to our mission. With its scale, India can lead the global electric revolution.”
To attract Indian consumers, both the VF6 and VF7 come with a compelling package: a 10-year/2 lakh km warranty on the vehicle and battery pack, free charging until July 2028, and three years of complimentary maintenance.
VinFast is adopting a customer-first approach, focusing on local adaptation and building a robust charging and after-sales infrastructure. They plan to expand their presence to 27 major cities with 35 showrooms by the end of 2025.
Globally, VinFast has expanded into 16 countries, and their India commitment includes a significant $2 billion investment, with an initial $500 million allocated to their Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu plant. This facility will have an initial annual production capacity of 50,000 EVs and will cater to both domestic and export markets across Southeast Asia and Africa.
In terms of competition, the VinFast VF6 is set to rival models like the Tata Curvv EV, Hyundai Creta Electric, and Mahindra BE.6, while the larger VF7 will compete with vehicles such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and BMW iX1 LWB.
This entry by a major global EV player like VinFast could significantly impact the competitive landscape and accelerate EV adoption in India.
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