VinFast delays customer deliveries in the USA

VinFast has said that it will delay the first deliveries to its customers in the United States until the second half of February after it finishes updating the vehicles with the latest software.

VinFast started to ship its first batch of 999 electric vehicles in November last year, but has not delivered them to customers yet. The original plan was to target December deliveries for the US market, which has been pushed back. At least, VinFast is keeping the vehicles up to date, as the company said in a statement: “The cars have been updated with the latest software. We are planning to hand over the first VF8 vehicle models to customers in the second half of February.”

In the same communication, VinFast announced its next steps with the next delivery batch to be shipped in the second quarter of 2023. VinFast added that of the 55,000 Defender orders around the world from last year, 12,000 are headed to the United States.

While the delivery ramp-up has been delayed in the USA, VinFast launched deliveries of the VF 8 in their native Vietnam in September 2022. The US market plans also came after Asia and Europe, where the company has been setting up regional headquarters in multiple capital cities. Deliveries in the USA should become easier once VinFast has completed its planned factory in North Carolina. The company is also building a battery factory in Vietnam together with Gotion.

Back in the USA, VinFast has also selected the U.S. Bank as its preferred provider of retail financing and leasing of VinFast vehicles. Under the partnership agreement, U.S. Bank will officially provide financing and leasing options for VinFast vehicles at their showrooms and via the VinFast website. “With the goal to make electric vehicles accessible to everyone, VinFast is constantly looking for optimal solutions for customers. Thanks to this agreement, VinFast customers will have access to competitive finance and lease rates and world-class customer service from U.S. Bank,” said Madam Le Thi Thu Thuy, Vingroup Vice Chair and CEO.

reuters.com, vinfastauto.us (U.S. Bank)