VinFast Reveals First Electric SUVs in L.A.

Vietnams+VinFast+unveiled+two+new+all-electric+SUVs%E2%80%94the+VF+e35+and+VF+e36%E2%80%94this+week+at+the+Los+Angeles+Auto+Show.+The+automaker+plans+to+start+taking+orders+next+spring+and+deliver+its+first+vehicles+to+customers+by+the+end+of+2022.+%28VinFast%29

Vietnam’s VinFast unveiled two new all-electric SUVs—the VF e35 and VF e36—this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The automaker plans to start taking orders next spring and deliver its first vehicles to customers by the end of 2022. (VinFast)

By Sebastian Blanco

VinFast has officially become the first Vietnamese automaker to unveil a vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show. This week, the new global brand revealed two electric SUVs—the VF e35 and VF e36—as part of a planned expansion to the United States, Canada, and Europe before the end of 2022.

The company didn’t provide many technical details of the VF e35 and VF e36 SUVs but did tell news outlets that the midsize VF e35 will come with a range of around 300 miles while the full-size, 3-row VF e36 will offer different versions with ranges of approximately 300 and 420 miles. The company highlighted the vehicles’ aerodynamic designs, including “Air Curtains” in the front end of the VF e36 and flush door handles and trim, to keep things slippery.

VinFast will fill the e35 and e36 electric vehicles (EVs) with advanced technology, including a full-color head-up display and a customizable, 15.5-inch touchscreen. The EVs will also come with advanced driving assistance systems (known as ADAS) that include lane-keeping assistance, collision alerts, driver monitoring, and enough self-driving sensors to offer fully automated parking and vehicle summon capability. The EVs’ infotainment system will offer a voice assistant and a virtual assistant. Connected services are also part of the plan, but it’s not yet clear what that would entail.

The company hasn’t yet divulged details about things like prices for the new EVs, but “they will be extremely competitive in their class from their features, experience, and cost point of view,” VinFast Global CEO Michael Lohscheller said during the event.

Alongside the new EVs, VinFast announced it would invest over $200 million to build a 15,000-square-foot U.S. headquarters in Los Angeles and hire 400 employees there. The fledgling automaker also wants to open as many as 60 showrooms in the United States next year.

VinFast was created in 2017 as part of the private conglomerate Vin Group, with a total capitalization of $35 billion. VinFast will begin vehicle production in Vietnam, but future production in the U.S. is also in the works.

VinFast plans to start taking orders for its new EVs next spring and deliver its first vehicles to customers by the end of 2022.