Friday, March 29, 2024
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Vietnamese automaker Vinfast will begin taking pre-orders in the USA market for its VF e35 and e36 electric SUVs in the first half of 2022 and expects to begin delivering them by the end of that year.

Vietnamese automaker Vinfast will begin taking pre-orders in the USA market for its VF e35 and e36 electric SUVs in the first half of 2022 and expects to begin delivering them by the end of that year. This was revealed by Michael Lohscheller, the global Chief Executive of VinFast.

In an email sent to Reuters, Michael Lohscheller who is a former Volkswagen and Opel executive & was named to his position at Vinfast in July, said that the company will unveil VF e35 and VF e36 electric SUVs at the 2021 Los Angeles auto show this November, thus marking the official introduction of VinFast cars to the American market. Vinfast already has an office in California and expects to inaugurate 60 showrooms in USA by next year, he said.
Vinfast has grand ambitions to launch EV sales in the USA and European markets next year, taking on the likes of Tesla and other automakers. Funding that plan is VinFast’s parent company Vingroup, which was founded as an instant noodle business and by now has spread its interests in real estate, resorts, schools, hospitals and smartphones.
Founded in 2017, Vinfast is aiming to compete on vehicle size and price. Additionally, VinFast electric vehicles will also come with a battery leasing scheme which means the cost of the battery, one of the most expensive components of an EV, will not be included in the final price. Furthermore, to fuel its growth, Vinfast has said it is eyeing a public listing in the United States. According to Lohscheller:
“VinFast has a plan for an IPO in USA but specific timing will depend on the market and other conditions. We will reveal more information at an appropriate time in the future.”
VinFast’s current portfolio consist of Lux A2.0 sedan and Lux SA2.0 SUV both designed by Pininfarina and were based on out-gone BMW platform while utilizing BMW sourced engines. Then there is a small car based on the Opel Karl, called the Fadil which is the bestselling VinFast product. Then it introduced the President SUV in September 2020 as the flagship model in its lineup. Whereas earlier this year, VinFast’s first electric crossover– the VF e34 made its debut.
Both the upcoming VF e35 and VF e36 will feature smart infotainment system with voice control, a “Virtual Assistant” and in-car payment services, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) including lane centering assist, collision warning, driver monitoring, fully-automated parking and a Tesla-style vehicle summoning feature. VinFast says, it has been able to incorporate these features through strategic investments, research and development and a global collaboration with automotive industry leaders and start-ups affiliated with VinFast and its parent company Vingroup. According to Vingroup vice chairwoman Le Thi Thu Thuy:
“We have made vigorous investments and conducted extensive market research to create premium EVs that will satisfy the desires of global customers. This is just the beginning. We hope to capture the hearts and imaginations of even the most demanding customers with VinFast’s dedicated service and smart, high-quality products.”


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The 2022 Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS), which was scheduled to be held between 19 and 27 February 2022 has been cancelled.

The 2022 Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS), which was scheduled to be held between 19 and 27 February 2022 has been cancelled. This is the third consecutive year that the renowned motor show has been called off.
The previous two events– 2020 & 2021 were cancelled due to the pandemic. However according to an official statement issued by the organizers of the event, GIMS has been cancelled not just due to the Coronavirus, but also due to the ongoing global semiconductor chip shortage. The event will now be held in 2023 as per the information given. According to Sandro Mesquita, the CEO of Geneva International Motor Show:
“Many exhibitors have indicated that the uncertainties caused by the pandemic make it impossible for them to make a firm commitment for GIMS 2022. On top of this is the negative impact that the current shortage of semiconductors has on car manufacturers. The chip crisis is likely to drag on well into next year, with negative financial implications for OEMs. In these uncertain times, many brands are therefore unable to make a commitment to participate in a trade fair that would have taken place in just over four months. When considering all the factors, it became clear that it was necessary to postpone the show, and to announce the news sooner than later to avoid cancelling at short notice.”
Held every year in Geneva, Switzerland, the GIMS is widely recognized as Europe’s most important automobile exhibition, and one of the most prestigious and influential in the world. Each show attracts over 10,000 journalists and more than 600,000 visitors to Geneva. The organizer and rights holder of GIMS is the Geneva-based foundation Comité permanent du Salon international de l’automobile. Maurice Turrettini, President of the Comité while commenting on the cancellation of the event, said:
“We have pushed very hard and tried everything to reactivate the Geneva International Motor Show in 2022. Despite all our efforts, we have to face the facts and the reality: the pandemic situation is not under control and presents itself as a big threat for a large indoor event like GIMS. But we see this decision as a postponement, rather than a cancellation. I am confident that the Geneva International Motor Show will come back stronger than ever in 2023.”


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