VinFast secures a $1.4 billion loan from parent Vingroup, plus another $2.1B from its chairman
Vietnamese EV automaker VinFast has just secured more funding to continue its operations. VinFast has been offered a loan for billions more from its parent company, Vingroup, including a $2.1 billion “sponsorship” from the Group’s chairman, Pham Nhat Vuong. All this is to achieve a break-even point and cash flow balance by the end of 2026.
As a young EV automaker out of Vietnam, VinFast remains the new kid on the block. To make a name for itself out of the gate, however, the automotive business entity under Vietnam’s largest conglomerate, Vingroup, came out absolutely sprinting off the starting line.
When we saw VinFast debut, it shared immediate plans for simultaneous market entries into the US and Europe, plus plans for an IPO, and several all-electric models entering production.
The “move fast and break stuff” strategy has worked for other new companies in the past, but part of that wreckage usually includes the bank. Scaling is not easy (or cheap), and at the rate VinFast has been moving, it’s even more expensive to do it so hastily.
According to a December 2022 filing with the SEC, VinFast reported whopping net losses of $1.3 billion in 2021 and $1.45 billion through September 30, 2022, with additional losses expected to incur “in the near term.”
In February 2023, Vingroup chairman Pham Nhat Vuong stated he had no intentions of investing any more of his personal money in the automaker. Vuong’s personal assets contributed to the initial $7.5 billion already allocated to VinFast from 2017-2022, alongside money from Vingroup and other lenders.
However, by April of that same year, VinFast received $500 million in nonrefundable grants from Vingroup. Furthermore, Vuong reversed his previous vow and offered the automaker another $1 billion in funding to keep going.
The automaker has since made more headway in global markets but has yet to become a household name. As such, VinFast has taken out another loan from Vingroup and additional funding from its chairman to keep it going through 2026.
VinFast accepts $1.4B loan from Vingroup plus more
VinFast shared news of its fresh round of funding this morning, which includes a loan of up to 35 trillion Vietnamese dong ($1.4 billion) from Vingroup by the end of 2026. Additionally, Chairman Vuong has personally pledged another 50 trillion dong ($2.1 billion) in sponsorship. The company stated that Vuong’s personal financial commitment will not impact the interests of Vingroup or its shareholders.
In a separate move, Vingroup will convert all existing loans, totaling approximately 80 trillion dong ($3.3 billion), to VinFast into dividend-entitled preferred shares. Per the release:
By converting loans to VinFast totaling about 80 trillion dong into preferred equity shares of VinFast Vietnam, Vingroup aims to alleviate short-term financial pressure on the electric vehicle maker. This move will allow Vingroup to maintain its stake in VinFast through dividend rights and the option to convert preferred shares into common shares of VinFast Vietnam Manufacturing and Trading Company or interests in VinFast Singapore.
VinFast shared that this loan and financial support plan aims to provide it with the necessary resources to fund operations, investments, and other obligations. Furthermore, Vingroup’s loan and sponsorship aim to help VinFast achieve the break-even point and cash flow balance by the end of 2026. A representative of Vingroup chairman Vuong’s office spoke about VinFast’s loan support strategy:
With the passion to create a world-class Vietnamese electric car brand, Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong will allocate significant resources to propel VinFast’s advancement. The newly secured funding source provides VinFast with the necessary financial resources to achieve sustainable growth without relying on external capital. This strategic move enables VinFast to prioritize research and development, production, and business expansion.
Despite having billions in loans and financial sponsorship lined up as a safety net, VinFast said it would continue to seek independent capital raises to meet its financial needs. The pledged funds from Vingroup and Chairman Vuong will be utilized only if those efforts are not successful.
Previous funds enabled VinFast to complete the construction of its 300,000-vehicle-per-year manufacturing plant in Cat Hai, Hai Phong, and the R&D of its entire BEV lineup. The company said it is now in a growth phase and has shifted its focus to “boosting sales across all markets and optimizing its cost structure.”
VinFast has delivered over 51,000 electric vehicles in Vietnam through the first ten months of 2024, but sales outside of its native country are going more slowly. Revenues are up, but delivery numbers are not where VinFast would like to be just yet.
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Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.
Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.
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Read more: All my favorite EVs, racecars, and robots from Electrify Expo Austin.
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Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.
Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”
This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”
Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.
Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
Read more: Texas to get 1 GW AI-powered virtual power plant, enough to power 200,000 homes
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Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
Read: Chinese solar giant Trina sells its Texas factory a week after it opens
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