The story of Vietnamese automaker VinFast keeps getting stranger. VinFast will bring two electric SUVs to America, the VF 8 and VF 9 models, but you can only purchase the car, not the battery. Instead, customers will lease the battery from VinFast as part of a confusing model that should theoretically save them money. Like many other EVs currently sold in the US, VinFast cars will include complimentary charging from Electrify America. Unfortunately, this deal only provides two free charging sessions up to 60 kWh and reduced pricing for an EA membership.
That deal pales in comparison to automakers like Audi that offer up to three years of complimentary charging with the e-tron GT. It especially stings when you hear what VinFast will give to its customers in Canada.
For our Northern neighbors. anyone who reserves a VF 8 or VF 9 from May 31 to September 30, 2022 will receive a Level 2 VinFast home charger and a $1,000 credit towards installation. But that’s not all. Owners are entitled to three years of unlimited complimentary charging sessions through VinFast’s Canadian charging partner, ChargeHub. Although its network is less expansive than EA’s, ChargeHub currently operates more than 6,000 Level 2 and over 800 Level 3 charging stations across Canada. And if these owners want to drive their VinFast through the US, they can still plug into ChargeHub Passport compatible networks.
VinFast’s offer for Canadian reservation holders far exceeds anything offered to US customers, and that’s only the charging deal. In addition, anyone who reserves their car through the VinFast Charged-Up program in Canada will also get a free one-year VinFast Smart Driving package included. This package adds several Level 2+ driver assists, including automatic lane changing, smart parking assist, remote parking assist, and smart summon mode (with an OTA update), plus a Smart Services suite with voice assistants (Cerence and Alexa), geo-fencing, time-fencing, live traffic, satellite view, in-car shopping, virtual assistant, streaming apps, games, web browsers, smart home control, and more.
Much like the Honda Civic Si, if you really want a new VinFast, you are better off buying it in Canada.
