VinFast 3 wants to reach the West and chooses the United States to kick off its sales

The segment of small off-roaders is about to welcome a new member, which will go head-to-head with the well-known Suzuki Jimny, but will feature an electric drivetrain. This is the VinFast VF3, which has just been unveiled at the CES in Las Vegas. It will become the entry-level model in the manufacturer’s range and is designed to begin moving into Western markets.

The VinFast VF3 was presented in Vietnam about six months ago, but with its official debut at CES, it begins its journey into the US market. What can be seen is a small urban SUV with an electric drivetrain and a look that is slightly reminiscent of the Suzuki Jimny, its main rival to beat.

Its front end stands out, featuring the brand’s image and a large, eye-catching front grille. It rides on 16-inch wheels and, although it measures only 3.11 metres in length, this seems more than enough for the four seats it offers. As for the boot, its capacity is only quoted with the two rear seats folded down. That figure is 550 litres, which is not bad, but with which the two rear seats are lost.

Inside, it will be equipped with a 10-inch information and entertainment screen, compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. As for the motor and battery, VinFast has not been very explicit. It is known that in Vietnam it will be available in two versions, ECO and Plus. Each of them will come with a single electric motor, although its power output is unknown.

There are no details about the battery either, although it is expected to offer a range of 200 kilometres on the EPA homologation cycle, which is somewhat more lenient than the European WLTP. For the moment, the VinFast VF3 will debut in Vietnam in the third quarter of 2024. It will then arrive in the United States, and its commercialisation in Europe will be evaluated. There is a good chance that it will, as VinFast is keen to have a presence in our market.