The first VinFast VF 8s arrived in the United States over the weekend and now the electric crossover has received all the necessary certifications to be sold in America.
That was the last major hurdle and it means the first vehicles will be delivered to customers by the end of the month.
The first 999 units are VF 8 City Editions, which have a dismal EPA range of 179 miles (288 km). That’s far from competitive as the VF 8 starts at $59,000 and has far less range than similarly priced competitors.
Also: First VinFast VF 8s Arrive In America, Electric Crossover Gets $2k Price Hike
In particular, the rear-wheel drive Cadillac Lyriq starts at $62,990 and has 312 miles (502 km) of range. Customers can also opt for the Audi Q4 50 e-tron quattro, which starts at $55,200 and can travel 236 miles (380 km) between charges. It’s also impossible to ignore the Tesla Model Y Dual Motor Long Range, which begins at $65,990 and offers 330 miles (531 km) of range.
Needless to say, the VF 8’s range of 179 miles (288 km) doesn’t cut it. However, that didn’t stop the company from trying to put a positive spin on things as they stated “this range is several times better than the average daily range of a typical driver in California.” VinFast also promised the range will be improved with a software update and we should learn more in January.
That being said, first impressions matter and VinFast’s website still lists the crossover’s targeted range as “up to 292 miles (470 km)*.” The asterisk notes the listed specifications are for pre-production vehicles and “may differ slightly,” but a 113 mile (182 km) difference is downright shocking.
