KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- VinFast to delay the production of VF6 and VF7
- Several dealers stepped back, citing the brand's lack of clarity
- Not enough has been done in the marketing department, one of the dealers said
VinFast, the Vietnamese electric car manufacturer, has modified its blueprint for India and will delay the launch of its VF6 and VF7 SUVs by a month, despite already having a plant in Tamil Nadu. The company has also reduced its sales target to 3,000 units for this year and is still working on expanding its dealer network across the country. For now, VinFast aims to understand the Indian market and make its debut this year. From next year, it plans to introduce a more suitable model - the VF3 - which will compete in the country's most competitive segment. Let's dive deeper below. In the meantime, make sure to join the 91Wheels WhatsApp Channel to never miss an automotive update!
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VinFast
In April, the news came that VinFast would start operations by June at their Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu plant. Now, this plan has been pushed to July 30- which translates to delays in bookings, launch, and deliveries of the VF6 and VF7. The core reason for this step is that VinFast doesn't have a clear picture of what price to set and how many units to sell. Moreover, in January, VinFast appointed several dealers for the launch, but more than half of them have stepped back, and now only around 9 to 10 dealers remain. This too happened because of the brand's lack of understanding of India's network, and despite a blockbuster showcase at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, Indians are still largely unaware of the brand.
One of the dealers said that VinFast hasn't done much in terms of marketing and we can't invest in a place where there is so much inconsistency and lack of knowledge. For sure, these steps will have a negative impact on their vision for this country, but it shows that they are taking all measures before stepping in. Hopefully, the automaker will work on its networking and start full-scale marketing to make its name heard by the masses.
To add more, this electric car company - known for its stunning design language - also made quite a buzz at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, where it showcased its entire lineup of seven cars. These include the VF6, VF7, VF8, VF9, VF3, VF e34, and the Wild. Now, VF6 and VF7 will launch first.
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Verdict
From this latest piece of news, we understand that VinFast is still working on its blueprint for India and is delaying overall operations. The area where they are significantly behind is marketing. Despite having a great show at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, the masses still don't know much about the brand - and that's because nothing significant has been done post the event. We can't comment on any internal shortcomings, as this piece of information is the first we've heard.
