VinFast Unveils Vietnam’s First Cars Ahead Of Paris Show Debut

VinFast, Vietnam’s first car company, has lifted the veils off its two Pininfarina-designed cars set to debut at this years’ Paris Auto Show.

The sedan and SUV models have been designed for the company’s home market based on a selection made by the Vietnamese people. VinFast gave the people of Vietnam the opportunity to influence the styling direction at the very beginning of the design process one year ago.

More than 62,000 people chose from 20 design sketches submitted by four major Italian car design houses. While ItalDesign’s sketches initially won the contest, Pininfarina was appointed to further develop and complete the designs.

Labeled as premium products, both cars feature very similar front ends sporting a chrome V emblem at the center of the grille, a horizontal chrome splint that merges with the LED DRLs, sleek headlights, and an asymmetric chrome element.

Highlights of the sedan’s design include the generous wheelbase, long bonnet, and horizontal body lines, while the SUV has a more muscular, sporty appearance.

There’s no information on powertrains, but we assume VinFast will provide more details on October 2, when both the sedan and SUV will debut at the Paris Auto Show. That’s when the company is expected to announce the names of the two models as well.

Following the world premiere, both cars will be introduced to the Vietnamese public by the end of this year. Exports to international markets are planned in the coming years but we don’t know which regions VinFast is targeting.

VinFast is a brand owned by VinGroup, the largest private enterprise in Vietnam. Besides the sedan and SUV, the automaker says it’s developing electric cars, city cars, electric buses, and electric scooters as well.