“Be Patriots: Supporting Local Electric Vehicle Brands”

Overcoming Skepticism: Proving the Quality of “Made in Vietnam” Electric Vehicles

“There was a lot of skepticism and even ridicule when VinFast first entered the automotive industry,” said Nguyen Duc Tuan, a member of the VinFast electric vehicle owners’ group, in a forum post on VinFast Electric Vehicle Owners (VEVO).

However, according to Tuan, in just five years since the first VinFast cars were delivered to Vietnamese consumers, the brand has established itself in the market. Notably, the company recently surpassed foreign automakers to become the market leader in Vietnam, just two years after transitioning to a fully electric vehicle manufacturer.

Tuan proudly recalled the numbers that propelled VinFast to the top spot in Vietnam, including over 11,000 electric vehicles delivered in October and more than 51,000 vehicles sold cumulatively from the beginning of the year to the end of October 2024. “Let’s raise a glass to celebrate this new milestone for VinFast,” he shared with fellow owners in the group.

For many, VinFast’s market leadership is not just the company’s success story but also a milestone for Vietnamese consumers. “For many years, we have seen foreign automakers enter Vietnam and prosper, while Vietnamese-made cars were nowhere to be seen,” said Tran Duc Thanh, a businessman in the processing and manufacturing industry in Ho Chi Minh City.

He acknowledged that people abroad associate countries like South Korea and Japan with their automotive brands, such as Toyota and Honda. That’s why when VinFast was established, he hoped for a brand that every Vietnamese could be proud of. “I always believed that Vietnamese electric vehicles would conquer the market. But achieving the number one position in just a few years is beyond my expectations,” said the owner of a Lux SA2.0 from 2019 and a new VF 8 Lux Plus.

Uniting to Create a World-Class Product for Vietnam

Sharing this joy, Associate Professor Dr. Ly Hung Anh from the University of Technology (VNU-HCM) and a member of the ASEAN NCAP Technical Committee, affirmed that VinFast’s achievements are closely linked to the support of the community. However, he added that VinFast has offered customers superior quality products at competitive prices and provided after-sales services that exceed market standards.

“VinFast chose to focus on electric vehicles from the beginning to stay ahead of the curve, and they did so with a thorough understanding of the technology. The company’s commitment to producing high-quality and safe vehicles, especially those that surpass their competitors in the same segment, has laid a strong foundation for their sustainable development,” said Dr. Hung Anh.

Moreover, what is even more commendable is how the Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer has promoted the accessibility of green transportation in Vietnam.

In just a few short years, Vietnam’s electric vehicle ecosystem has grown exponentially, with charging stations and service centers now present in major cities, along national highways, and even in remote counties. Additionally, VinFast has introduced a range of attractive incentive programs to make electric vehicles more accessible to the public, such as the “Mãnh Liệt Tinh Thần Việt Nam – Vì Tương Lai Xanh” campaign, which offers free charging and parking privileges, and the recent “Trade-In” program that makes it easier for car owners to switch to electric vehicles.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Dam Hoang Phuc, Director of the Automotive Engineering Training Program at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, these initiatives have created a strong community effect, benefiting individuals, households, and service providers alike, thereby encouraging more people to embrace green transportation.

However, in VinFast’s journey forward, Dr. Phuc believes that being number one is just the beginning. “We need more support and collaboration from other businesses and the community as a whole,” he said.

Echoing this sentiment, Professor Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, stated that VinFast has invested significant resources to benefit Vietnamese consumers. He emphasized that these efforts are genuine and deserve recognition and respect.

Dr. Thien affirmed that driving Vietnamese electric vehicles is one way to demonstrate patriotism and responsibility for a greener future. For him, patriotism should be understood in a practical sense, where every individual can contribute to a cleaner environment and a better quality of life.

“We not only benefit from these contributions, but we should also feel proud and take action to support VinFast in creating world-class products that represent the best of Vietnam,” he concluded.

Thai Son (Tuoitrethudo)