VinFast Unveils VF Wild Electric Pickup Concept at CES
Vietnamese electric vehicle maker, VinFast, showcased its VF Wild electric pickup concept at CES, signaling its intention to enter the competitive American pickup market.
VinFast Aims for the American Pickup Market
VinFast, a Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer, made its debut in the United States market with the announcement of its plans to target the popular pickup segment. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, VinFast introduced the VF Wild electric pickup concept, hinting that it may bring a similar truck into production.
Tran Mai Hoa, VinFast's deputy chief executive for sales and marketing, emphasized that the VF Wild demonstrates the company's ambition to penetrate the fast-paced and thriving electric pickup truck market. The truck's official status is a concept vehicle, but VinFast executives have expressed their intentions to produce a truck based on the VF Wild design.
Introducing the Versatile VF Wild Electric Pickup
The VF Wild is a mid-sized electric pickup slightly shorter than popular models like the Toyota Tacoma or Ford Ranger. It features four doors, two rows of seats, and a cargo bed that spans approximately five feet. One unique feature of the VF Wild is its foldable back wall, which allows for a seamless transition between the passenger compartment and the cargo bed. When the back wall folds down, the rear seats also collapse, enabling the transportation of items up to eight feet in the combined space.
VinFast's foldable cab design resembles General Motors' feature in the Chevrolet Silverado EV electric pickup. The VF Wild, however, is smaller in size, positioning it as a compact alternative to full-sized electric pickups like the Silverado EV, Ford F-150 Lightning, and Tesla Cybertruck. It also falls in the mid-size range, making it more compact than the Rivian R1T.
Expansion into the US Market with VF 3 Electric SUV
In addition to the VF Wild electric pickup, VinFast unveiled the VF 3, a subcompact electric SUV that the company already sells in Vietnam and plans to introduce in the US market. The VF 3 stands out with its unique two-door design and compact dimensions, even smaller than existing subcompact vehicles available in the US, such as the Kia Rio or Nissan Versa.
Although the VF 3's size limits its battery capacity, VinFast promises ample interior space despite its compact exterior. However, the limited battery range restricts the VF 3's driving distance to approximately 125 miles on a single charge, which falls shorter than many other electric vehicles currently on the market.
VinFast's Journey in the US Market
VinFast faced initial challenges when its first offering in the US market, the VF 8 luxury vehicle, received critical reviews from prominent auto journalists. In response, the company acknowledged the feedback and made improvements to address the identified concerns.
Established in 2017 as a subsidiary of Vietnam's Vingroup, VinFast transitioned swiftly to focus solely on electric vehicles. To cater to the American market, the company is constructing a factory in North Carolina to manufacture electric vehicles for US consumers.
