Vietnam's first EV, VinFast VF e34 delivered to first customers with RM 11k worth of freebies

Vietnam’s very own homegrown car manufacturer (they're not calling themselves a national carmaker), VinFast had just begun deliveries for the country’s first-ever electric vehicle (EV), the VinFast VF e34. Aptly, the handover ceremony was held on Christmas Day but having first dibs on Vietnam’s first EV wasn’t the only gift presented to owners.

For the first 25,000 owners of the VF e34, VinFast is offering an advanced options package worth VND 60 million (~RM 11k) for free. These include advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) suite, navigation features, and geo-restriction settings.

Aside from the enhanced freebies, the first 25,000 owners will also get the first 12 months of battery rental for free.

Yes, the 42kWh battery is sold separately for the VF e34, just like some of the toys you once get for Christmas. However, seeing how many buyers in the region are having doubts on battery maintenance, the Vietnamese carmaker sought for a more cost-effective solution to encourage switching to a seemingly ‘cleaner’ fuel source.

Also read: Vietnam’s first EV – VinFast VF e34 goes on sale, RM 125k but batteries not included

VinFast offers a subscription package for users with the minimum range dropped from 1,400 km/month to 500 km/month. In essence, users would have to buy a minimum monthly subscription of VND 657,500 (~RM 120) every month.

In case it exceeds the monthly travelling quota, users are charged VND 1,315 (RM 0.24) per km. As assurance for those who fear their battery depleting, once the charging capacity of the battery drops below 70%, VinFast will replace the battery for a new one completely free of charge.

Also read: VinFast forges partnerships to make Vietnam ASEAN’s EV hub

However, the battery rental subscription prices are subject to change every year. Depending on the prices of electricity and gasoline, VinFast will adjust the battery rental price every 1-December.

Also read: How many years before Vietnam overtakes Malaysia’s car industry? About 10

Prices for the VinFast VF e34 starts from VND 690 million (~RM 125k). The B-segment SUV makes 150 PS and 242 Nm with a claimed driving range of 285 km.

VinFast doesn’t have plans to be brought into Malaysia but it could be arriving in Indonesia and there are also plans to enter the American market with larger models like the VF e35 and VF e36.

Also read: VinFast skips Malaysia for Indonesia; 3 models, EV included