Who is VinFast?
The company ‘VinFast’ was founded in the Vietnamese city of Hai Phong in 2017 and has since claimed to build state-of-the-art automobiles, i.e. vehicles ‘at the cutting edge of technology’. With production that is 90% automated according to the company’s own statements, this self-assessment may well not be entirely unfounded.
VinFast is part of Vingroup, a listed public limited company and Vietnam’s largest industrial group. The CEO of VinFast is Le Thi Thu Thuy, a woman – still quite unusual by European standards. The company’s motto is: ‘We are paving the way for a more sustainable future.’
VinFast is not an atypical Asian vehicle manufacturer: not only cars, trucks and buses roll off the production lines in Hai Phong, but also electric scooters. A company as young as VinFast has not invested any more money in the development of combustion engines – here, electric mobility is the ‘founding technology’.
VinFast delivered its first buses in 2021, initially to its home market in Vietnam. Now it is making the leap to Europe – VinFast says Europe is its second most important market.
European premiere at Busworld in Brussels
Busworld is the world’s largest bus trade fair. This year, it will take place from 4 to 9 October at the Brussels Exhibition Centre (Palais d’Expositions). It will be bigger than ever, as not only the well-known bus manufacturers will be exhibiting, but also bus manufacturers that have not previously been represented in Europe. Examples include JBM from India and Marcopolo from Brazil – both of which had a stand at Busworld in 2023 but are still unknown in Europe.
VinFast from Vietnam is participating for the first time this year. It is celebrating its European premiere in Brussels. It is exhibiting two electric buses, the EB 8 and the EB 12, which are 100% compliant with European Union registration regulations. The EB 12 in particular is homologated in accordance with CE regulations and those of the UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe). This should enable it to get off to an easy start on the European markets.
Both models are equipped with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries from renowned Chinese manufacturers CATL and Gotion, which have a capacity of up to 422 kWh. VinFast states that the range is up to 400 kilometres. With fast charging at up to 140 kW, it takes only two to three hours to fully charge the batteries.
The vehicles are equipped with driver assistance systems such as blind spot assist, intelligent speed assist and a collision warning system. The bus also monitors whether the driver is becoming tired. Initially, the driver is warned; if they do not respond, the bus automatically initiates braking.
Passengers have access to Wi-Fi, USB ports and an infotainment system. It goes without saying that the vehicles can be lowered to make it easier for passengers to board.
According to VinFast, 1,500 to 2,000 electric buses can be built per year.
In service from 2026
From 2026, the EB 8 and EB 12, which are now being presented in Brussels, will also be available for use in regular service in Europe.
Already represented in Europe with electric cars
VinFast is already represented in Europe with electric cars. With the launch of electric buses on the European market, VinFast is underlining the company’s production capacities. At the same time, it wants to show its commitment to smart, green and sustainable cities worldwide.
Photos: VinFast/Vinbus
