Vinfast used the 2022 New York Auto Show to announce the availability of its battery subscription service for the U.S. alongside additional details on the VF 8 and VF 9. Available with two battery options, both models are expected to go on sale in the second half of 2022. The VF 8 will be able to travel 260 to 292 miles per charge on the Eco version or 248 to 277 miles for the Plus model. The former will be able to hit 60 mph in 5.8 seconds while the latter does the same deed in 5.3 seconds. Pricing for the VF 8 Eco is $40,700 when equipped with the version 1 battery and $41,000 with the version 2 pack. The VF 8 Plus is more expensive at $47,700 and $48,000 for the version 1 and 2 units respectively.
The Vinfast VF 9 will also be offered in Eco and Plus configurations with the former able to travel between 272 to 369 miles per charge. Plus versions are good for 262 to 360 miles. Both versions can do the 0 to 60 mph spring in 6.3 seconds. Pricing for the VF 9 Eco starts at $55,000 with the version 1 battery or $56,000 for the version 2 pack. The VF 9 Plus is the most expensive model in the Vinfast lineup at $60,500 with the version 1 battery and $61,000 when equipped with the version 2 unit. VF 9s with the version 2 battery goes on sale in 2023.
With regards to the battery subscription plan, Vinfast will offer two plans, the Flexible and Fixed packages. The former has been designed for customers who don’t travel often with a monthly fee of $35 for VF 8 and $44 for the VF 9. However, this is limited to only 310 miles of travel. Once you get past that, the battery subscription is $0.11 per mile for the VF 8 and $0.15 for the VF 9. The fixed subscription is priced higher at $110 for the VF 8 and $160 for the VF 9. However, this gives you an unlimited range for the battery. Those who made a reservation will and opted for the fixed subscription will retain the same lifetime subscription fee and will be transferred to the new owner if the vehicle is sold.
Vinfast says that by separating the battery price from the vehicle’s acquisition value, it takes on all the risks related to the pack, ensuring reasonable pricing for its products. This also provides peace of mind for the consumers regarding the battery’s quality, especially when you consider that it’s covered by a lifetime warranty for all maintenance and repair costs. If the battery’s charging capacity dips below 70 percent, Vinfast will replace it for free. The battery subscription policy will be in place until the end of 2023. After that, Vinfast is adjusting the proportion so that 50 percent of the pack is for rent and the other 50 percent is for sale during the purchase process.
In addition to providing more product and battery subscription details, Vinfast also announced the activation of its VinFirst NFT exchange on OpenSea, which is based on the Polygon platform. This makes it the first battery-electric vehicle brand to apply Blockchain technology for the VF 8 and VF 9 reservation program. After putting down a deposit, customers will get a non-fungible token (NFT) on Blockchain — VinFirst NFT. Starting this month, those that put down a preorder can participate in NFT trading exchanges on OpenSea and access special offers for Vinfast customers.
