Vietnamese EV manufacturer VinFast, which is setting up its India plant at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, has revealed the specifications for its VF 3 electric SUV. Bookings for the EV started in the company’s home country earlier this month, and VinFast claims that it received over 27,000 pre-orders in just 66 hours.
The two-door, four-seat VF 3 is 3,190mm long, 1,679mm wide, 1,622mm tall and has a 2,075mm long wheelbase. Despite its compact size, VinFast is calling it a ‘mini-SUV’. For reference, the VF 3 is 216mm longer and 174mm wider, yet 18mm shorter than the MG Comet EV – India’s smallest electric car. The VF 3 boasts a 191mm ground clearance, and comes with optional 16-inch alloy wheels.
Powering the VF 3 is a rear-mounted electric motor producing 43.5hp and 110Nm torque. The company claims that it can accelerate from 0 to 50kph in 5.3 seconds. The motor is powered by an 18.64kWh lithium-ion battery offering a range of up to 210km on a single charge (NEDC cycle). With a fast charger, the electric SUV can be juiced up from 10-70 percent in 36 minutes.
VinFast VF 3: price, India relevance
The VinFast VF 3 is priced at VND 322 million (with battery), which converts to about Rs 10.54 lakh. The manufacturer is also offering the car without the battery pack at VND 240 million (Rs 786,000 lakh). Customers opting for the latter can opt for a battery pack subscription plan.
VinFast is all set to enter the Indian market with two completely built import models – a compact SUV (VF e34) and a crossover hatchback (VF 5) – in the second half of FY2025. While there is no confirmation about the VF 3’s India launch, the model’s design was patented in India a few months ago, which means that it could be under consideration for our market.
If brought here, the VF 3 could directly rival the upcoming Baojun Yep-based electric SUV that will be launched by MG Motor next year. Based on the same platform as the MG Comet, the Yep has a similar design philosophy and dimensions as the VF 3, and the two will likely be positioned as direct rivals.
