VInFast has received one of the important permits that will allow it to begin construction on a planned $4 billion assembly facility in North Carolina.
The Vietnamese car manufacturer has been awarded an ‘Air Permit’ which it says will allow it to start construction on phase 1 of the factory. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s website reveals that the Air Permit application was made in December and that it was approved on February 9. VinFast says it will “start construction soon.”
Reuters notes that phase 1 of the project will see the company invest some $2 billion into a factory that will be able to produce 150,000 vehicles a year. The second phase will focus on battery production.
Read: VinFast Founder Isn’t Planning To Invest Any More Of His Money In Firm
VinFast has ambitious aims to rival some of the world’s largest car manufacturers in the United States and recently shipped hundreds of vehicles built in Vietnam to U.S. consumers. One of the first models it is launching is the VF 8 Eco City Edition.
When first announced, the firm said the SUV would set back customers a minimum of $55,500 and that it had a range of just 179 miles (288 km). It has since made a software update to the VF 8 Eco City Edition that has upped the range to 207 miles (333 km). The starting price for the SUV has also dropped to $49,000 while the VF 8 Plus City Edition now starts at $56,000 rather than $62,500.
It remains to be seen how willing U.S. consumers will be to purchase an EV from VinFast when they could get one from a more established company, like Tesla. Indeed, a Tesla Model Y Dual Motor Long Range is available from $54,200 and not only is it more powerful and significantly quicker than the VF 8 Plus City Edition but it also capable of traveling 330 miles (531 km) on a single charge.
