VinFast (VFS) launches VF 7 SUV priced around $35,000 – When will we see it in the US?
Vietnamese automaker VinFast has officially launched its VF 7 EV in its native country, rounding out a lineup of of six initial SUVs covering the A to E vehicle segments. While the initial launch begins in Vietnam, the VF 7 should eventually make its way to the US and it’s starting at a rather enticing price point.
VinFast ($VFS) is an EV automaker we’ve been closely following since its US debut at the LA Auto Show over two years ago. That doesn’t sound like a huge passage of time, but the automotive arm of the Vietnamese conglomerate VinGroup is moving quicker than most if not all of its competitors. Such speeds do come with their fir share of stumbles, however.
In that time, we’ve seen VinFast launch the VF e34, VF 5, VF 8, and VF 9 SUVs – which were soon followed by a new $20,000 electric minicar called the VF 3 designed specifically for the Vietnamese market. That said, VinFast has reportedly been mulling bringing that model to the US alongside the VF 8 and VF 9 which are already for sale.
Two additional models in the pipeline overseas that are expected to reach global EV markets, are the VF 6 and VF 7. The B segment VF 6 SUV launched in Vietnam in early October and is now being joined by the VF 7, completing VinFast’s first wave of all electric SUVs.
While US consumers may have to wait to learn more about the potential savings the VinFast VF 7 SUV could provide, we have learned a lot more about this EV following its Vietnamese launch today.
VinFast VF 7 launches in Vietnam, deliveries imminent
VinFast officially launched its new VF 7 C segment SUV Vietnam today and it will come available in two trims: “Base” and “Plus” – the latter of which features an “asymmetric aerospace” language by Torino Design. Here’s how the specs break down:
| VinFast VF 7 | Base | Plus |
| Powertrain | Single motor | Dual motor |
| Battery Capacity | 59.6 kWh | 75.3 kWh |
| Power | 174 hp (130 kW) | 349 hp (260 kW) |
| Torque | 250 Nm | 500 Nm |
| Range (Targeted) | 375 km WLTP (233 miles) | 431 km WLTP (268 miles) |
| Price (without battery) | VND 850 million (~$35,000) | VND 999 million (~$41,000) |
| Price (with battery) | VND 999 million (~$41,000) | VND 1.199 billion ($~49,000) |
VinFast states both the Plus and Base trims of the VF 7 come with the VF Connect package, featuring a virtual assistant that can communicate with different Vietnamese dialects, plus auto e-call, intrusion alert, and time-fencing.
As you can see ion the pricing above, VinFast is offering a battery leasing model with the launch of the VF 7, including a monthly fee on top of the MSRP. Per the release:
In the Vietnamese market, VinFast is offering a battery leasing package at a monthly cost of VND 2.9 million (~$120) for a maximum travel distance of up to 3,000 km per month. For travel ranges exceeding 3,000 km, the monthly fee will be VND 4.8 million (~$198). A deposit of VND 41 million (~$1,695) will be required for the battery lease. Upon contract termination, battery returns to VinFast, or transferring the vehicle and battery to another owner, this deposit will be refunded to customers.
While VinFast has shared intentions to bring both the VF 6 and VF 7 SUVs to the US, there is no clear timeline one when that will happen, although it should be sometime in 2024. For now, VinFast says it will begin accepting VF 7 reservations in Vietnam on December 2, 2023, followed by deliveries in early 2024.
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After a month off trying to wrap our heads around all the chaos surrounding EVs, solar, and everything else in Washington, we’re back with the biggest EV news stories of the day from Tesla, Ford, Volvo, and everyone else on today’s hiatus-busting episode of Quick Charge!
It just gets worse and worse for the Tesla true believers – especially those willing to put their money where Elon’s mouth is! One believer is set to lose nearly $50,000 betting on Tesla’s ability to deliver a Robotaxi service by the end of June (didn’t happen), and the controversial CEO’s most recent spat with President Trump had TSLA down nearly 5% in pre-morning trading.
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Hyundai is getting ready to shake things up. A new electric crossover SUV, likely the Hyundai IONIQ 2, is set to debut in the coming months. It will sit below the Kona Electric as Hyundai expands its entry-level EV lineup.
Is Hyundai launching the IONIQ 2 in 2026?
After launching the Inster late last year, Hyundai is already preparing to introduce a new entry-level EV in Europe.
Xavier Martinet, President and CEO of Hyundai Europe, confirmed that the new EV will be revealed “in the next few months.” It will be built in Europe and scheduled to go on sale in mid-2026.
Hyundai’s new electric crossover is expected to be a twin to the Kia EV2, which will likely arrive just ahead of it next year.
It will be underpinned by the same E-GMP platform, which powers all IONIQ and Kia EV models (EV3, EV4, EV5, EV6, and EV9).
Like the Kia EV3, it will likely be available with either a 58.3 kWh or 81.4 kWh battery pack option. The former provides a WLTP range of 267 miles while the latter is rated with up to 372 miles. All trims are powered by a single electric motor at the front, producing 201 hp and 209 lb-ft of torque.
Although it may share the same underpinnings as the EV2, Hyundai’s new entry-level EV will feature an advanced new software and infotainment system.
According to Autocar, the interior will represent a “step change” in terms of usability and features. The new system enables new functions, such as ambient lighting and sounds that adjust depending on the drive mode.
It’s expected to showcase Hyundai’s powerful new Pleos software and infotainment system. As an end-to-end software platform, Pleos connects everything from the infotainment system (Pleos Connect) to the Vehicle Operating System (OS) and the cloud.
Pleos is set to power Hyundai’s upcoming software-defined vehicles (SDVs) with new features like autonomous driving and real-time data analysis.
As an Android-based system, Pleos Connect features a “smartphone-like UI” with new functions including multi-window viewing and an AI voice assistant.
The new electric crossover is expected to start at around €30,000 ($35,400), or slightly less than the Kia EV3, priced from €35,990 ($42,500). It will sit between the Inster and Kona Electric in Hyundai’s lineup.
Hyundai said that it would launch the first EV with its next-gen infotainment system in Q2 2026. Will it be the IONIQ 2? Hyundai is expected to unveil the new entry-level EV at IAA Mobility in September. Stay tuned for more info. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.
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Tesla has unveiled its lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery cell factory in Nevada and claims that it is nearly ready to start production.
Like several other automakers using LFP cells, Tesla relies heavily on Chinese manufacturers for its battery cell supply.
Tesla’s cheapest electric vehicles all utilize LFP cells, and its entire range of energy storage products, Megapacks and Powerwalls, also employ the more affordable LFP cell chemistry from Chinese manufacturers.
This reliance on Chinese manufacturers is less than ideal and particularly complicated for US automakers and battery pack manufacturers like Tesla, amid an ongoing trade war between the US and virtually the entire world, including China.
As of last year, a 25% tariff already applied to battery cells from China, but this increased to more than 80% under Trump before he paused some tariffs on China. It remains unclear where they will end up by the time negotiations are complete and the trade war is resolved, but many expect it to be higher.
Prior to Trump taking power, Tesla had already planned to build a small LFP battery factory in the US to avoid the 25% tariffs.
The automaker had secured older manufacturing equipment from one of its battery cell suppliers, CATL, and planned to deploy it in the US for small-scale production.
Tesla has now released new images of the factory in Nevada and claimed that it is “nearing completion”:
Here are a few images from inside the factory (via Tesla):
Previous reporting stated that Tesla aims to produce about 10 GWh of LFP battery cells per year at the new factory.
The cells are expected to be used in Tesla’s Megapack, produced in the US. Tesla currently has a capacity to produce 40 GWh of Megapacks annually at its factory in California. The company is also working on a new Megapack factory in Texas.
Ford is also developing its own LFP battery cell factory in Michigan, but this facility is significantly larger, with a planned production capacity of 35 GWh.
Electrek’s Take
It’s nice to see this in the US. LFP was a US/Canada invention, with Arumugam Manthiram and John B. Goodenough doing much of the early work, and researchers in Quebec making several contributions to help with commercialization.
But China saw the potential early and invested heavily in volume manufacturing of LFP cells and it now dominates the market.
Tesla is now producing most of its vehicles with LFP cells and all its stationary energy storage products.
It makes sense to invest in your own production. However, Tesla is unlikely to catch up to BYD and CATL, which dominate LFP cell production.
The move will help Tesla avoid tariffs on a small percentage of its Megapacks produced in the US. Ford’s effort is more ambitious.
It’s worth noting that both Ford’s and Tesla’s LFP plants were planned before Trump’s tariffs, which have had limited success in bringing manufacturing back to the US.
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