In spite of the limited infrastructure for electric vehicles, Vietnam has become an attractive market for car manufacturers to introduce their strategic electric car models.
The Vietnamese car market is experiencing a surge in electric vehicle offerings in 2023. There is a wide range of new electric car models available, spanning from affordable mini cars to luxurious SUVs.
CHEAP MINI ELECTRIC CARS
Wuling HongGuang MiniEV
The Chinese car model, Wuling HongGuang MiniEV, made its debut in Vietnam in June 2023 and quickly caught the attention of many users. With prices ranging from 239 to 282 million VND per version, this car model is considered relatively expensive compared to other small car models in Vietnam.
Being the pioneer in the mini electric car segment in Vietnam, the HongGuang MiniEV is manufactured in China, which creates some hesitation among potential buyers.
The car has a compact size with a length of 2,920 mm and a turning radius of just 4.2 meters. It comes in 11 trendy color options. The Advanced version is equipped with daytime running lights, LED taillights, and LED strips on both sides of the Wuling logo.
Catering to the transportation needs in urban areas, the Wuling HongGuang MiniEV offers a 4-seat interior space with standard features such as a 7-inch LCD TFT display, dual-zone air conditioning, Bluetooth/radio connectivity, electric power steering, rear parking sensors, and a rearview camera (LV2).
Positioned as a mini electric car for urban commuting, the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV features a relatively modest motor (17.4 horsepower), slightly more powerful than the motor found in the Honda SH150i (16.9 horsepower).
With limited safety features including anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD), tire pressure monitoring, automatic door lock while driving, and driver airbags (LV2), users might have concerns about its safety in the event of a collision.
It is expected that the mini electric car segment in Vietnam will become more vibrant in 2024 with the introduction of the VinFast VF 3.
MAINSTREAM ELECTRIC CARS
In the mainstream electric car segment, two dominant models from VinFast (VF 6 and VF 7) and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 are currently leading the market.
VinFast VF 6
The B-segment SUV, VF 6, was introduced in September with two versions: Base and Plus. The Base version is priced at 675 million VND (without the battery) and 765 million VND (with the battery). Meanwhile, the Plus version is priced at 765 million VND (without the battery) and 855 million VND (with the battery).
Both versions of the VF 6 are equipped with a 59.6 kWh LFP battery, providing a corresponding operating range of 399 km and 381 km (according to the WLTP standard) on a full charge. The car utilizes an electric motor with a maximum power of 100 kW and 150 kW, delivering maximum torque of 135 Nm and 310 Nm respectively. This provides a lively driving experience and caters to the travel needs of every customer.
In terms of safety features, the VF 6 boasts advanced Level 2 high-speed driving assistance technologies included in the ADAS package. These include lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, emergency lane-keeping assist, and more, outperforming competitors in the same B-segment crossover category.
VinFast VF 7
The VinFast VF 7, introduced on November 22, is positioned in the C-segment Crossover segment. This segment has relatively high sales figures in the Vietnamese market, and the VF 7 is expected to become VinFast’s flagship model, increasing their market share in the coming months.
The car is available in 2 versions: VinFast VF 7 Base, priced at 850 million VND (without the battery) and 999 million VND (with the battery); and Plus version, priced at 999 million VND (without the battery) and 1.199 billion VND (with the battery).
In terms of performance, the VinFast VF 7 Eco version is equipped with a single motor on the front axle, providing a maximum power of 201 horsepower (150 kW) and 310 Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the high-end Plus version is equipped with two motors and a dual-motor drivetrain, delivering up to 349 horsepower (260 kW) and 500 Nm of torque.
Both versions of the VinFast VF 7 are equipped with a 75.3 kWh battery. The car has a maximum driving distance of 450 km for the Eco version, while the Plus version can reach up to 431 km on a full charge.
In terms of safety, the VinFast VF 7 is equipped with 8 airbags and a full range of active safety systems, including anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD), emergency brake assist (BA), electronic stability control (ESC), traction control system (TCS), hill-start assist (HSA), rollover prevention (ROM), and more.
Moreover, the Plus version features an advanced ADAS driving assistance system with 11 basic features and 15 advanced features. At the time of delivery, the VF 7 will already have basic ADAS features, such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot warning, door opening warning, automatic front emergency braking, 360-degree camera system, and others. Additional features will be remotely updated by VinFast free of charge in 2024.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Introduced on July 31, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 competes in the same segment as the VF 7. It is assembled in Vietnam by Hyundai Thanh Cong and has a starting price of 1.3 billion VND.
In the Vietnamese market, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is equipped with a single engine combined with a 72.6 kWh battery. The electric motor produces 214 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. This allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 185 km/h. The battery supports fast charging from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes using a 350 kW power source. However, it takes up to 20 hours to fully charge the car with the built-in charger at home. Each full charge allows the Hyundai Ioniq 5 to travel up to a maximum of 450 km.
LUXURY ELECTRIC CARS
Not to be outdone by competitors such as Mercedes-Benz and Audi, BMW has also entered the electric vehicle market in Vietnam in 2023, offering the i7, i4, and iX3 models.
BMW i7
The BMW i7 is considered the electric version of the 7-Series, competing with the Mercedes-Benz EQS.
This car is exclusively available in Vietnam in one version – the BMW i7 xDrive60 – priced at 7.199 billion VND.
The powertrain of the BMW i7 consists of a rear axle motor producing a maximum power of 313 horsepower and a front axle motor producing 258 horsepower. The combination of these two power sources results in a combined power of 544 horsepower and a total torque of 745 Nm. With this power, the car can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds and has a maximum range of up to 625 km on a full charge.
BMW i4
In addition to the i7, BMW also introduced the BMW i4 – the pure electric version of the 4-Series – at the end of July 2023. THACO AUTO is the official distributor of this car at a price of 3.759 billion VND.
The BMW i4 is the first electric Gran Coupe that has been developed with a focus on delivering a thrilling driving experience. The car has a combined electric consumption of 19.1 to 16.1 kWh per 100 km (according to the WLTP test cycle) and is equipped with a 250 kW / 340 horsepower electric motor with a rear-wheel drive system.
BMW iX3
The BMW iX3 is considered the pure electric version of the X3. This car is distributed in Vietnam in a single M Sport version with a price of 3.499 billion VND.
The BMW iX3 is the pioneering SAV model that marks a new development phase for BMW, focusing on providing more driving pleasure and safety through the brand’s leading electric models. The BMW iX3 is also the first high-riding vehicle to be equipped with the fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology, featuring an optimized drivetrain for electric motors and a range of the most advanced driving assistance technologies from BMW.
Mercedes-Benz EQB SUV
The Mercedes-Benz EQB is a small luxury 7-seat SUV developed based on the GLB platform.
This car model comes equipped with many modern features and a series of driving assistance systems, such as LED High-Performance headlights, AMG sports seats wrapped in Artico leather combined with Microcut fibers, a dual-screen with a size of 10.25 inches, and the latest MBUX6 infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Powering the Mercedes-Benz EQB is an electric motor with a maximum power of 190 horsepower and a maximum torque of 384 Nm. This enables the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 8.9 seconds. The car utilizes a front-wheel drive system. According to Mercedes-Benz Vietnam, the EQB has a range of up to 473 km on a full charge.
The car is officially distributed in Vietnam with a price of 2.289 billion VND.
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV
Positioned two grades higher than the EQB, the Mercedes-Benz EQE is a 5-seat SUV. The car is distributed in Vietnam in a single version, EQE 500 4Matic, priced at 3.999 billion VND.
The EQE SUV boasts a youthful and modern exterior design. Its exquisite interior is equipped with many advanced convenience features, such as the MBUX Hyperscreen, which includes 3 connected screens with a size of 56 inches.
This electric car is furnished with numerous premium features, including over-the-air software updates, the Intelligent Park Pilot parking assist system, range-based route planning based on battery capacity, and more.
Powering the Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4MATIC are two electric motors at the front and rear, generating a maximum combined power of 300 kW and a maximum torque of 858 Nm. This allows the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds. The EQE SUV achieves an average travel distance between 462-549 km according to the WLTP test. It is equipped with a 400V lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 90.56 kWh.
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Among the upcoming electric SUV models, the most prominent one is the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. It is distributed in a single version, EQS 500 4Matic, with the AMG Line sports package, and is priced at 4.999 billion VND.
As the most luxurious model with the “S” character in its name, the EQS SUV signifies a vehicle with special and iconic significance, representing the highest level of technology and emotion in the EQ brand.
The exterior design of the EQS SUV has many similarities with the EQS, such as the extended grille and taillights. Additionally, the interior of the EQS SUV is almost identical to that of the EQS. The car is equipped with the MBUX Hyperscreen, measuring up to 56 inches in size.
Powering the Mercedes EQS 500 4MATIC SUV are 2 electric motors with a total power output of 443 horsepower and a total torque of 828 Nm, paired with a 108.4 kWh battery and a 4-wheel drive system. Mercedes-Benz claims that the fast charging time for the EQS SUV 500 4Matic is 31 minutes, taking the car from 10% to 80% charge. The car has a maximum range of 616 km.
TH (Tuoitrethudo)
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