VinFast EScooters Coming to America
Electrek reported a couple of weeks ago about a new electric scooter company coming to America. What’s different about VinFast is that it’s not just importing scooters to the US, it’s also importing a factory: The North Carolina facility, Electrek reports, is expected to break ground later this year, with production supposed to begin in 2024. The skids have reportedly been greased with a $1.2-billion incentive package from the state. There’s no need to get upset about US tax funds going to China, though, as VinFast is headquartered in Hanoi City, Vietnam.
Though then-President Trump disbanded the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal with Vietnam and a bunch of other trading partners in 2017, Vietnam and 10 other countries went ahead and signed the Comprehensive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in March, 2018. Since then, bilateral trade between the US and Vietnam has grown, and is expected to continue thriving. In fact as the US – China relationship sours, Vietnam is a beneficiary. Now they’re on our side!
VinFast’s website shows seven scooters spread over three categories: High Class, Intermediate, and Common. At MO, we go straight for High Class every time.
There’s also a plain Theon that’ll only do 90 kph (55 mph), with no US spec chart.
The High Class Vento Will also lists US specs, and looks like it should be top-of-the-line, with its 5200-watt battery. In this case, more watts does not mean more speed, which is said to top out at 55 mph – and the smaller tires don’t really say high performance either. VinFast does spec a range of 160 km for this one, though, just about 100 miles – but that’s at an average speed of 18 mph. If you weigh 143 pounds. Yours for 56 million dong in Vietnam, or $2,394.
Anyway, it all sounds like fun to us, as the only other electric scooters out there are the somewhat pricey BMW CE 04 and a few Chinese models. Oh, and let’s not forget the Vespa Elettrica, and Piaggio 1. More information over here at the VinFast website.
More by John Burns
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