#vinfastvf8

VinFast has had several early bumps in the road, but the Vietnamese automaker appears to be hitting its stride in at least one area. The company recently announced an expansion to its U.S. dealer network, giving it stores in several new areas and growing its footprint to 18 dealerships in seven states.

VinFast made a splash in the U.S. with the release of its first EV here, the VF8, but the reviews have not been the most positive early impressions. We’re expecting another model, the VF9, at some point, but the automaker’s newest EV hasn’t yet been slated for a North American release. The new VF3 mini EV is scheduled for release in 2024 as a super-small crossover with seating for five.

VinFast isn’t quite riding the wave of success it likely hoped for with its recent North American debut. The Vietnamese automaker experienced multiple delays in bringing its electric SUVs to the U.S., and the initial reviews haven’t been kind. Now, we’re hearing about a recall for the brand-new VF8 SUV relating to an issue with the screens that could cause them to go blank.

After delays, layoffs, and less-than-perfect initial reviews, VinFast has finally delivered its first vehicles to U.S. customers. The automaker announced that 45 new VF 8 City Edition EVs made it to customers at nine locations across California, a small portion of the 999 vehicles it imported. 

VinFast can’t seem to make up its mind about how, when, and for how much to sell its vehicles. Recently, the automaker announced that the first round of U.S.-bound vehicles had left its home country of Vietnam. That was after it backtracked on a decision to sell vehicles with a battery subscription instead of pricing them outright. Most recently, Automotive News reported that VinFast is holding onto the 999 vehicles it shipped here last year for software updates.