Vietnamese VinFast has unveiled the second generation of the VF8, and the new model unexpectedly went against the usual logic of modern automotive industry. Instead of increasing power and size, the company made the crossover more compact, simpler, and cheaper. The new VF8 replaced the original crossover, created with the participation of Pininfarina. But now the car has changed significantly: the body has become shorter, the battery smaller, and the power has almost halved. Instead of the previous dual-motor setups of 350–400 hp, the base version received a single electric motor with about 201 hp and front-wheel drive.
At first glance, this looks like a step backward. But VinFast has a different logic. The company is trying to make the VF8 mass-market and affordable, especially in Southeast Asian markets. A more compact battery reduces production costs, and front-wheel drive reduces energy consumption and the car's price.
For VinFast, this is critically important. The first generation VF8 received a mixed reputation in the US: journalists complained about raw software, suspension, and unstable electronic system tuning. Many problems were fixed with OTA updates after sales began.
Now the brand is effectively changing its strategy. Instead of trying to compete with Tesla and premium SUVs, the company is focusing on a cheaper and more pragmatic segment. Amid slowing global demand for expensive electric vehicles, this could prove to be a much more realistic scenario.
VinFast is going against the general trend of Chinese and American manufacturers, who continue to increase the power and size of EVs. The Vietnamese brand, on the contrary, is betting on simplifying the design and lowering the price.
Read more articles:
- Brabus released a "Batmobile" with a V12, and this is a challenge to the entire era of electric vehicles
- Renault is preparing an aggressive pickup for developing markets, and it doesn't look European at all
- AI can solve the main problem of fast charging: batteries will stop "dying" prematurely