FAST FORWARD

VinFast is a very young Vietnamese brand, but it's coming to India with serious ambitions and two electric SUVs — the VF6 and VF7

- Pablo Chaterji

Let's dive straight into the question you're all asking — who (or what) on earth is VinFast? The answer is fairly straightforward — it's a Vietnamese automaker that's so new you can still see the plastic wrapping on the seats. Established in 2017, it initially produced ICE cars — a sedan and a crossover based on the BMW 5 Series and X5, respectively — before pivoting entirely to BEVs in 2022. The firm has gone from zero to Vietnam's bestselling car brand in less than a decade, a remarkable feat. Now, it's betting the house on India, with a massive factory coming up in Tuticorin (TN) and two models — the VF6 and VF7 — all set for an India debut.

As a newcomer to the global stage, let alone India, VinFast faces a steep climb. India's car buyers are notoriously price-sensitive, demanding premium features at budget prices, and the electric vehicle segment remains niche, with range anxiety a persistent concern. Add to that the challenge of building brand awareness and loyalty for a company as yet unknown outside Vietnam, and VinFast’s gamble seems rather audacious. Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained and all that.