Vietnamese automaker VinFast launched in the U.S. back in April 2022. VinFast bills itself as a premium EV brand boasting designs from legendary Italian design firm Pininfarina. Deliveries of the VF 8 midsize two-row crossover have been trickling out for some time, but its second model in the U.S. is finally getting into the hands of Americans, according to Automotive News. It’s the VinFast VF 9, the band’s flagship three-row electric crossover.
Including the $1,200 destination charge, the VinFast VF 9 starts at $71,000 for the base Eco model and $75,000 for the fancier Plus model. They get 330 miles and 291 miles of range, respectively. Both come with a dual-motor AWD powertrain rated at 402 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque. It has an estimated charge time of 10 to 70 percent in as little as 35 minutes.
The Plus model’s upgrades over the Eco trim include 21-inch wheels, premium vegan leather, heated, ventilated, and massaged first- and second-row seats, an available six-seat configuration with a second-row center console, a rear screen on the center console, and a panoramic fixed glass roof.
The VinFast VF 9 competes with the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq, the first three-row EV from General Motors. The recently unveiled production version of the Vistiq also has a standard dual-motor powertrain, but it pumps out 615 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, making the Cadillac more of a performance crossover than the VF 9. The Cadillac Vistiq also boasts a 33-inch infotainment screen, standard Super Cruise, five-zone climate control, and an AKG 23-speaker audio system. Deliveries should begin in the summer of 2025, and pricing starts at $78,790.
VinFast has had its share of troubles since launching in the U.S. two years ago. It first announced it was coming to the U.S. in early 2021 with three models, and its second model just hit the road. It started actively testing vehicles in Michigan in November 2022, and it debuted concepts of an electric pickup and a little crossover at CES 2024.
There’s been an ongoing drama about VinFast building a plant in North Carolina that was announced in March 2022, broke ground in July 2023, was supposed to be operational in July 2024, and has been delayed indefinitely due to the company’s financial losses. Until the North Carolina plant is ready, assembly of the VinFast VF 9 takes place in Vietnam.
Comments
By definition there can’t be a fabric that is “vegan” leather. Leather is an animal’s hide. Vegan is devoid of animals. Call it what it really is, vinyl.
This is yet another one, like Fisker, Karma, etc., that just won’t go away, when it should. I thought the VF9 was on sale almost a year ago. It was reviewed by media back then. Should have begun with an ICE VF1, like Hyundai did 40 years ago.
That car (the Revero) finally kicked the bucket back in 2020. The company still has what appears to be some concept cars but nothing that looks slated for production. I really don’t know what Wanxiang Group was thinking with buying out the Karma brand. I rarely ever seen these cars around. I seen more high end Mclarens than these Reveros and their older Fisker ancestors.
A wiser investment was what Geely did with Lotus whether you hate them or love them for it. Whether people will be willing to spend 6 figures for an electric Chinese built poser posing as a British car remains to be seen. I can tell you Polestar isn’t doing very well.
I actually don’t dislike these VinFasts. Pininfarina did a nice job on the looks. I hope they do work through the issues they were blasted for by reviewers and it seems like they are with their newer reviews.
One gripe though. The interior. Enough with the bland slapped on tablet screens already! Why can’t they nicely integrate them like GM and Mercedes does? When did it become acceptable to make the cars interior devoid of any character? People hate generalizations but here it has to be said for EVs. “All y’all look alike!”
“The VinFast VF 9 competes with the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq, the first three-row EV from General Motors.” Incorrect- that will be the 2025 Escalade IQ.
While I wouldn’t buy it, it doesn’t look too bad. Could do well in foreign markets, than the US.
You can be sure that once the administration changes officially, the price of the VF9 may very well be doubled…that is the very type of vehicle that falls into the tariff’s gunsight
They are trying to produce them in the US. But as the article states, its been a rocky road for them. Time will tell. Vietnam isn’t China though and the price of these models won’t cause dumping. At $71k they’re not exactly cheap these VinFasts.
Another yawner.
Vinfast can take a hike! The bones of too many GIs are still over there.
Time to move on with the times my friend. Vietnam ranks in the top 5 countries that view Americans most favorably and that’s despite what happened in the 60s. They deserve our respect and handshake. The same can’t be said of their big neighbor in the north who is teaching their children to hate and kill Americans (and Japanese) but expect us to buy their EVs and electronics anyways.
US sales will be well below 1,000/year.
There is nothing about this that screams Cadillac level of prestige. They may want it to compete with Cadillac, however its more likely competing with Hyundai and Kia
I drove a VF6, it was a humongous pile of crap. They could offer a 20 year bump to bumper warranty and I still wouldn’t buy one, warranty means jacksh!+ if they aren’t around to honour it
Any Agent Orange in the leather seats?….