Vietnam-based Vinfast plans electric pickup trucks

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Vietnam-based Vinfast plans electric pickup trucks

He said that we want to serve the needs of the market, because Vinfast wouldn't sell an electric pickup. If we decide that's what the market needs and that fits our brand especially, and I think it absolutely could, yeah. Ford Motor Co, Rivian and General Motors Co currently sell electric pickup trucks, and Tesla plans to begin production of its Cybertruck pickup in mid- 2023.

Vinfast started building EVs in Vietnam last year and is aiming for a shift to all-electric production by 2023.

Westbrook said that the company's plans to begin vehicle production at a plant in North Carolina are on track for July 2024. Vinfast plans to open a US plant with an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles, building the VF 8 and VF 9 SUVs.

Vinfast has over 8,000 reservations for its SUVs in the United States, and between 40,000 and 50,000 worldwide, including Vietnam, Europe and Canada, he said.

Westbrook said that the cost to lease the electric battery will be included in the VF 8 and VF 9 vehicles, with starting prices of US $40,700 and US $55,500. He said that a final price on the battery lease has not been set, but will start in the low US $100 s a month.

Vinfast will also offer the option of buying the battery with the vehicle starting in 2024, according to Westbrook. The company expects that consumers will split between leasing and buying.