HAI PHONG, Vietnam — VinFast announced the shipment of the second batch of 1,879 VF 8 vehicles to the U.S. and Canada. The vehicles are expected to be delivered to U.S. customers in May and to Canadian customers in June.
The ship carrying the Vietnamese electric vehicles left port Sunday and will travel more than 20 days before arriving on the California coast with 1,098 VF 8 cars for U.S. customers.
The VF 8 is an all-electric SUV. The company shipped its first 999 cars to California in November, but were not provided to customers until March after disclosing the car would have a lower battery range than it had flagged to buyers, according to Reuters.
For the European markets, the first exported batch is expected to commence in mid-July 2023 with 700 VF 8 vehicles.
Currently, VinFast is offering a monthly lease price of $399 for the VF 8 City Edition model for a 24-month lease.
The Vietnamese auto-manufacturer is building a facility in Moncure; it’s expected to open in 2025.
VinFast recently announced a delay from its initial 2024 opening plans last month, attributing the change in schedule to the need for “more time to complete administrative procedures” at its 1,756-acre site. Company officials said they remain fully committed to the project.