VinFast Announces New U.S. Dealers Across Several States

Chris Teague
by Chris Teague

VinFast has had several early bumps in the road, but the Vietnamese automaker appears to be hitting its stride in at least one area. The company recently announced an expansion to its U.S. dealer network, giving it stores in several new areas and growing its footprint to 18 dealerships in seven states.


VinFast added 12 stores, with new dealerships in Connecticut and Kentucky, five new locations in Florida, and four in Texas. With 18 stores in seven states and its corporate dealers in California, VinFast now has a surprisingly robust U.S. retail footprint, though it’s still unclear how the early reviews will affect sales of its EVs at the new locations.


Though the automaker has a range of vehicle offerings in Vietnam, its only model on sale in the U.S. is the VF 8 SUV. Deliveries have been slow to start in 2024, with only 448 new registrations in the first two months of the year. It only managed 265 in all of 2023, though that was likely due to delays in the rollout and early hiccups with the vehicle’s tech.


VinFast’s North Carolina factory will be up and running by next year and is expected to start production by the end of 2025. If the automaker meets other requirements for federal tax incentives, the domestic output would qualify its vehicles for up to $7,500 in credits at the time of sale.


The VF 8 has struggled to break ground in the increasingly crowded EV market, as spotty reviews have highlighted deficiencies with its tech, ride quality, and driver assistance features. That said, the price isn’t terrible by current EV standards, starting at $47,200 with leases at $429 monthly. Leasing EVs can also be a loophole in the federal tax credit rules, making the VF 8 slightly more attractive for buyers.


[Image: VinFast]


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Chris Teague
Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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  • 28-Cars-Later 28-Cars-Later on Apr 25, 2024

    "The VF 8 has struggled to break ground in the increasingly crowded EV market, as spotty reviews have highlighted deficiencies with its tech, ride quality, and driver assistance features. That said, the price isn’t terrible by current EV standards, starting at $47,200 with leases at $429 monthly."


    In a not so surprising turn of events, VinFast US has already gone bankrupt.

  • TheEndlessEnigma TheEndlessEnigma on Apr 26, 2024

    Poor planning here, dropping a Vinfast dealer in Pensacola FL is just not going to work. I love Pensacola and that part of the Gulf Coast, but that area is by no means an EV adoption demographic.

    • CrackedLCD CrackedLCD on Apr 29, 2024

      That was my thought as well. Pensacola itself could be considered a bit progressive but it's surrounded by a vastly larger conservative rural and naval-led area. Them and Bowling Green are definite "WTF?" choices.


  • MaintenanceCosts Nope. The CUV is now the default car, and the sedan is a specialty product. For baseline competitiveness the OEMs need a full lineup of CUVs. Full-line OEMs also need pickup trucks and a couple sizes of SUVs. Sedans are what coupes used to be: a bonus afterthought.
  • Jeff I believe if they made sedans with usable trunks, taller, and easier to get in and out of more people would buy them. The trend toward sloped roofs, lower profiles, and small trunks has increased sales of crossovers and suvs.
  • KOKing Toyota still moved half a million Camrys and Corollas in the US last year, and although I can't find Model 3 numbers on their own, I'm guessing it's in the 200k range, so sedans aren't going the way of the PLC. Clearly SUVs and trucks have higher margins, and it's all about 'shareholder value' for the Big 3 in particular, so I don't seem them bringing em back if/until the pendulum swings back in another generation or two.
  • Billccm I miss the Fusion, too. My daughter's 2007 Fusion has been reasonably reliable and now approaching 200,000 miles her only replacement to consider is a Honda Accord. Sad Detroit decided not to compete in the automobile business.
  • Tassos Jong-iL Maybe I am wrong. I am paid to give me (as informed as possible) opinionDid you learn English in one of my gulag schools? I joke, I joke! please have a great weekend Healey-San.
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