Vietnam’s VinFast expands into the Middle East; previews VF 8 EV

ABU DHABI: VinFast has officially marked its entry to the Middle Eastern market at an event held on Bluewaters Island in Dubai. The Vietnamese automaker showcased a range of smart and eco-friendly mobility solutions, highlighting the brand’s global expansion plans as well as commitment to sustainable transportation in the region.

VinFast introduced the VF 8 as its first electric car in the UAE. It comes in two variants - Eco and Plus, expected to be priced at  $47,500 (AED 174,443) and $51,500 (AED 189,133), respectively.

The base-spec VF 8 Eco trim is powered by an all-wheel drive dual motor setup generating a maximum power of 349 hp and a peak torque of 500 Nm. The VF 8 Plus variant, on the other hand, gets more powerful e-motors tuned to deliver 402 hp and 620 Nm.

As for the battery pack, both variants feature an 87.7 kWh unit, offering a range of up to 493 km (NEDC) on the Eco and 476 km (NEDC) on the Plus trim. The battery juices up from 10-70% in approximately 31 minutes with the help of DC charging.

The VinFast VF 8 measures 4750 mm in length, 1934 mm in width, 1667 mm in height and spans a wheelbase of 2950 mm.

In terms of features, the well-equipped VinFast EV comes with the following standard bits - 

• 19-inch alloy wheels.
• LED headlamps with auto function
• LED daytime running lights (front and rear)
• Active shutter
• Ventilated disc brakes
• 15.6-inch infotainment screen
• Head-up display
• 8 speakers

• Dual-zone automatic air conditioning
• Leatherette upholstery
• 8-way power seats for the driver and 6-way for the front passenger 
• Keyless start/stop
• Selectable driving modes (Eco/Normal/Sport)
• Wireless charger
• Adaptive cruise control
• 360 Surround View Monitoring
• 11 airbags
• ADAS pack - front collision warning, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, emergency lane keep assist, lane centering assist, traffic jam assist, highway assist, driver monitoring system

With the top-spec VinFast VF 8 variant, the customers get bigger 20-inch wheels, an enhanced audio system with 10 speakers, ventilated seats, 12-way power seats for the driver and 10-way for the passenger, Panoramic sunroof, Vegan leather seats, and auto-dimming rearview mirror.

The distribution of VinFast cars will be held by Al Tayer Motors in the UAE. The company has inaugurated its first showroom in the downtown area of Dubai. It spans over 1,000 square meters and features a modern and luxurious style, integrated with a service workshop, providing customers the opportunity to directly experience VinFast's smart electric vehicles.

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