VinFast VF 8 gets new promotional program and updated range
If you are considering buying VinFast’s new VF 8 electric vehicle that landed in the US, you may be in luck. VinFast announced a new pricing promotion Friday, along with an updated EPA range for the VF 8 City Edition.
Last week, Electrek reported VinFast was considering implementing new promotions as it worked to make a name for itself in the US market.
After Tesla introduced massive price cuts across its lineup (Model Y was up to 20% off), the EV leader experienced “unprecedented demand” in the US and other markets globally, with many stores hitting new records.
However, analysts believe Tesla’s price cuts may spark the beginning of an EV price war in which other automakers will also need to reduce prices to remain competitive.
We are already seeing the spillover effects. For example, XPeng slashed prices on some of its most popular EV models in China by up to 13%, following a decline in sales during Tesla’s price cuts.
Experts say the same could happen in the US, and we are seeing our first signs of it as newcomer VinFast releases a special promotion for its first EV in the region, the VF 8 City Edition.
According to the company, the VF 8 City Edition Eco will start at $49,000, while the Plus model starts at $56,000, effective immediately. Buyers will also receive an additional direct discount of $3,000 off the MSRP.
In addition, the EPA estimated range for the VF 8 Eco has been upgraded to 207 miles (333 km) on a single charge, up from 179 previously.
Electrek’s Take
After shipping its first batch of VF 8 models to the US in November and starting the process of going public on the US markets, VinFast is looking to expand its brand and become a competitor in the rapidly evolving EV market.
As a newer brand, introducing price discounts can be a great way to attract new buyers. However, the VF 8 is still pricey, especially the Plus model. The VF 8 Plus starts at $56,000 ($53,000 with direct discount) with 179 miles EPA estimated range.
With those prices, it will be hard to compete with Tesla, given the Model Y starts at $53,490 with a 330-mile range. Even the Eco model with an updated 207-mile range is almost $50,000.
There are several EV SUVs on the market already that the VF 8 will compete with, such as Hyundai’s IONIQ 5, with a starting MSRP of $41,450 and an EPA range of 303 miles.
I like VinFast’s vision and how quickly the company is expanding, but with prices like these, it may be tough to carve out a market for itself. Hopefully, they can prove me otherwise.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Hyundai is about to launch a new electric SUV in China. With its big debut coming up, Hyundai just dropped a sneak peek, and it looks like it could be the IONIQ 4. Check it out for yourself in the video below.
Is Hyundai teasing the IONIQ 4?
We caught our first glimpse of the new EV model last month after Beijing Hyundai released a few official “spy” photos.
Despite the camouflage, you can see a few design elements, like a light bar across the front, slim LED headlights, and a closed-off grille. At first, it almost looks like a smaller version of the IONIQ 9, Hyundai’s first three-row electric SUV, but with a much sportier, shaped profile.
Beijing Hyundai released a new teaser for the upcoming electric SUV this week. The video shows “a wave of high-end operations” as the vehicle dances across the snow.
The video highlights features like real-time torque control, high-speed cornering, and the SUV’s impressive body control while driving around cones.
Hyundai’s new electric SUV is being called “OE” internally, according to The Korean Car Blog, suggesting it could be an IONIQ model.
All other Hyundai IONIQ EV models were also codenamed with an “E” internally, which is raising speculation that this could be the IONIQ 4.
Like most global OEMs, Hyundai is fighting to compete in an intense Chinese EV market, which is dominated by domestic automakers like BYD.
Hyundai opened its first overseas R&D center last year in China to spearhead its comeback. It will work with local suppliers and tech companies to develop EVs designed for Chinese buyers. The new electric SUV is expected to launch in China later this year, followed by three new energy vehicles, including EVs and EREVs.
Beijing Hyundai will release more information on April 16, with the electric SUV set to “challenge the limit of driving performance.”
What do you think of Hyundai’s new electric SUV? Is this the IONIQ 4? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Charge point provider char.gy has secured a £130 million contract to install 6,000 curbside EV chargers for Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) – the UK’s largest installation of its kind.
London-based char.gy has also been awarded a 15-year contract to operate and maintain the charging network.
Installing Level 2 chargers curbside, where most drivers in the UK park, will enable more people to take advantage of cheaper charging rates while juicing up their EVs overnight. (charg.gy’s pay as you go night tariff, between midnight and 7 am, is £0.39/kWh, compared to its £0.59/kWh day tariff.)
John Lewis, chief executive of char.gy, said the project is “a huge moment for the UK and its EV ambitions. This partnership alone will empower thousands of residents to confidently make the switch to electric vehicles, knowing they have easy access to chargers.”
Brighton and Hove City Council is among the first to tap into the government’s Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund, designed to help English local authorities roll out charging solutions for residents without off-street parking. Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood said making EV charging as accessible as possible is “crucial to making the switch to electric a success.”
The UK now has over 75,000 public EV chargers, according to the Department for Transport—and it looks like the country’s on pace to hit its 2030 target. Back in December, the National Audit Office said the rollout is “on track” to meet the DfT’s estimate that at least 300,000 chargers will be needed by the end of the decade.
Read more: Meet the UK’s largest solar + storage EV charging ‘Superhub’
Now is a great time to begin your solar journey so your system is installed in time for those longer sunny days. If you want to make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20 to 30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate partner
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway
Comments