VinFast, the high-end-aspiring Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) maker, will launch platforms with higher-level automated functions in the near future using ZF’s expertise in hardware, software, and system integration, the two announced in conjunction with CES 2022.

“The future is both electric and automated as we seek to help protect our environment while providing transportation that enhances safety, convenience, and efficiency,” said VinFast Global CEO Le Thi Thu Thuy. “We will work together to achieve this vision for VinFast customers as we expand our sales around the world.”

ZF will be the key systems partner supplying multiple cameras, radars, and LiDAR sensors and the intelligent fusion of the sensors to be networked within an advanced ZF central control unit. This will enable VinFast and ZF to deliver SAE Level 2+ functions initially and work to develop higher-level functions such as traffic jam pilot, highway driving chauffeur, and automated valet parking.

“The design and development of higher-level AD systems will assist drivers all over the world in enjoying enhanced degrees of safety, convenience, and intelligence,” said ZF Board of Management Member Martin Fischer. “This is our vision when we talk about ‘The Next Generation of Mobility,’ and one proof point of how we are making this a reality now.”

Jointly developed with ZF global engineering operations, including in China, Germany, and North America, VinFast automated driving systems and  Level 2+ functions are anticipated to launch from the middle of 2022 with a phased approach that will use increasingly sophisticated sensor sets and central controllers to enable higher automated functionality for urban, highway, and parking scenarios for Level 3 and above beginning in 2023. This includes ZF’s automated valet parking solution that is among the first Level 4 systems intended to rely on the vehicle sensor set to operate rather than pre-mapped and instrumented parking structures.

According to Fischer, some system “ingredients” include a ZF sensor set including a forward-facing camera, surround cameras, mid-range and imaging radars, and a further option for LiDARs. The centerpiece intelligence comes from the ProAI high-performance computer where ADAS and Level 3 and 4 functions are controlled.

At CES, VinFast also announced it will commence a reservation program for its first two EV models—the VF e35 and VF e36—beginning on January 5. The company will apply blockchain technologies in the process to certify reservations, payments, and eventually vehicle ownership. Its application of blockchain makes it one of the world’s first automakers to put this advanced technology into use.

The reservation portal will open simultaneously for both U.S. and Vietnamese markets during the VinFast Global EV Day event, within CES 2022, and close on April 5. During this period, customers that make reservations will automatically join an exclusive membership program.

“We hope that our exclusive program VinFirst—‘Pioneer’s Gratitude to Pioneers’—will be seen as a meaningful gift for our first customers at the beginning of a new, exciting year, and the beginning of a smart and sustainable future of mobility for all people,” said Thuy.

VinFast officially launched its global electric vehicle brand and unveiled the two electric SUVs at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show. The company there said it plans to deliver a comprehensive and modern EV ecosystem built on a platform of smart services and personalized experiences for customers.

The electric SUVs will be equipped with Level 2+ autonomous driving features for Eco and Plus versions and Level 3 to 4 for Premium versions. The models will also feature smart services including smart home, mobile office, in-car shopping, and in-car entertainment.

VinFast says that the development of the VF e35 and VF e36 is the result of a strategic investment in its internal R&D system and global collaboration with technology companies and innovative startups. At the LA Auto Show, the VinAI, Vantix, and VinBigData members of the parent Vingroup technological ecosystem joined VinFast to highlight the company’s and Vietnam’s artificial intelligence research, solutions, and services sector. They are providing R&D contributions in numerous smart features, ADAS, and virtual assistants to provide VinFast with significant competitive advantages.

At Los Angeles, VinFast officially announced that its U.S. Headquarters will be located in the city in the Playa Vista area, a neighborhood known as “Silicon Beach” and packed with tech firms.

“We are excited to make Los Angeles the permanent home of VinFast US,” said VinFast US CEO, Van Anh Nguyen. “California in general and Southern California, in particular, are rapidly becoming the epicenter of the advanced transportation world thanks to forward-thinking ideas, an abundance of talented workers, and the passion for making transportation electrification a reality.”