VinFast, Vietnam’s first global EV brand, announced more details on its smaller VF 6 and VF 7 all-electric crossovers at CES 2023, with first reservations for both vehicles beginning in March 2023. The two models, in the B and C segments, respectively, join the company’s quickly growing range of EVs (electric vehicles), adding to the larger VF 8 and VF 9 introduced last year.

A unit of the Vingroup, the largest conglomerate in Vietnam, VinFast was established in 2017 and owns a state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing complex in Hai Phong, Vietnam, with scalability enabled by up to 90% automation. Its mission is to build a sustainable future with advanced smart services, seamless customer experiences, and competitive pricing for all.

Since announcing its pure-electric strategy at CES 2022, VinFast has introduced design details and specifications for its four EVs in the most popular crossover and SUV segments in the U.S. The company just started deliveries of the VF 8 City Edition to U.S. customers following the September distribution to Vietnamese owners.

Le Thi Thu Thuy, Vingroup Vice Chairwoman and CEO of VinFast Holdings, has been leading the fast switchover to electrification with a growing executive team including new addition Gareth Dunsmore, Deputy CEO, Global Sales & Marketing. The company is building an ecosystem of products to demonstrate a commitment to a greener and more sustainable future. It is also focusing on differentiating with smart services, with two partnership announcements with Vayyar Imaging and NXP Semiconductors being the big news from the show.

“VinFast always strives to bring diverse vehicle options to meet the demands of most customers, while pushing the transition from ICE to all-electric vehicles,” said Thuy. “VinFast’s VF 6 and VF 7 are models that combine the elements of style, modern technology, and outstanding technology in an efficient and fun package. I believe that these models will resonate well with young customers who are passionate about technology and exhilarating driving experiences.”

In addition to its four passenger vehicle models and four e-bike variants in the VinFast CES show stand, visitors could also test drive the VF 8, take advantage of the VinFast Chauffeur service running between the Bellagio and the Las Vegas Convention Center, and experience an immersive journey detailing VinFast’s rise to prominence in the automotive landscape.

 

Smaller crossovers

The VF 6 and VF 7 were first revealed at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show in November, covering the smaller end of its four EV models in the B/C/D/E segments of all-electric SUV models includes the larger Pininfarina-designed VF 8 and VF 9. The two new models get interior and exterior design details from Torino Design.

“With four electric SUVs across all segments and flexible sales policies—with batteries or with battery subscription, VinFast offers diverse options to consumers, helping them easily access high-quality electric vehicles, reasonable prices, and excellent service to move toward a greener and more sustainable future,” said Thuy, at the LA show.

A year after revealing the global EV brand, VinFast in September had already started to deliver the VF 8 to customers in Vietnam and began shipping vehicles to international markets by the end of 2022. In December, the company celebrated the arrival of the first 999 VF 8 EVs known as City Editions into the U.S. at the Port of Benicia in California.

The City Edition has an industry-leading 10-year warranty for the vehicle and battery (with unlimited mileage) and 24/7 emergency roadside assistance during the warranty period. For the Eco and Plus models, the range is EPA-certified at a low 179 mi—but several times better than the average daily range of a typical driver in California, according to public research cited by VinFast. The company promises an improved range with a software update, with new numbers expected to be announced by the end of January.

The VF 6 is positioned in the small crossover segment, with dimensions of 166.9 x 71.7 x 62.8 in (4238 x 1820 x 1594 mm) on a 107.5-in (2730-mm) wheelbase. The Eco version has a maximum WLTP-targeted range on a full charge of 248 mi, with outputs of 174 hp and 184 lb·ft. The Plus version has a maximum WLTP-targeted range of 237 mi and outputs of 201 hp and 228 lb·ft. Both versions have a battery capacity of 59.6 kW·h. In-car entertainment applications will be displayed on a 12.9-in touchscreen.

Slightly larger than the VF 6, the VF 7 measures 178.9 x 74.4 x 64.4 in (4545 x 1890 x 1635 mm) on a 111.8-in (2840-mm) wheelbase. The VF 7 Eco will be equipped with a 12.9-in touchscreen, while the Plus gets an upgrade to 15.0 in. Its maximum WLTP-targeted range is 280 mi for the Eco version, with outputs of 201 hp at 228 lb·ft. The Plus version with its standard two-motor AWD system has a maximum WLTP-targeted range of 268 mi and provides a stronger 348 hp and 368 lb·ft. Battery capacity is 75.3 kW·h. Official EPA ranges will be announced when available.

Both models will be equipped with SAE Level 2 ADAS features for all Eco and Plus versions and modern experience technology features such as a virtual assistant and mobile application.

 

Vayyar in-cabin radar technology

VinFast’s partnership with Vayyar Imaging is aimed at enhancing the driving experience and safety by integrating in-cabin radar technology into the VF 6 and VF 7 to help detect and alert when children are left in the car.

Vayyar’s automotive-grade imaging radar platform is designed for safety solutions for in-cabin, ADAS, and motorcycle safety. Powered by a single radar-on-chip, it is said to deliver exceptional resolution across an ultra-wide field of view, enabling it to replace multiple existing single-function sensors.

Inside the cabin, the 60-GHz configuration detects the presence, position, and size of each occupant, classifying children and adults. This enables child presence detection, enhanced seat belt reminders, optimized airbag deployment, out-of-position alerts, and intruder detection. Outside the car or motorcycle, the 79-GHz system supports most short-, medium-, and long-range radar applications including parking assistance, autonomous emergency braking, lane change assist, blind-spot detection, cross-traffic alerts, and adaptive cruise control, with an effective range from 20 cm to 300 m.

VinFast believes that Vayyar’s in-cabin 4D imaging radar technology platform will provide it with a competitive edge with classification-based child presence detection to prevent hot-car tragedies. The high-resolution platform’s wide field of view allows it to cover the entire passenger vehicle cabin including footwells and open trunk. It classifies each seat’s occupant, triggering an alarm if children are left in the car.

“I believe Vayyar’s best-in-class solution will contribute to our goal of accelerating the global transition to sustainable transportation by making electric vehicles more compelling and exciting for everyone,” said Stuart Taylor, VinFast’s Head of Smart Services Institute.

VinFast continues to research a range of additional features based on the Vayyar platform’s point cloud layer such as seat-belt reminder, intruder alert, and occupant classification for airbag deployment that will further enhance its EVs’ safety.

“We’re proud to be part of the VinFast story and anticipate great success for the OEM, underpinned by rock-solid safety,” said Ian Podkamien, Vayyar Vice President and Head of Automotive.

In the longer term, both companies are exploring options to expand the partnership to other vehicle models and additional features for in-cabin sensing as well as a range of advanced driving assistance applications.

 

NXP processors, semiconductors, and sensors

VinFast’s collaboration with NXP Semiconductors is on next-generation automotive applications, leveraging the chipmaker’s processors, semiconductors, sensors, and partner ecosystem to accelerate the automaker’s time-to-market. The collaboration will develop solutions based on NXP’s reference evaluation platforms and software layers.

“Our collaboration with NXP will help streamline our next-generation designs, technology, and manufacturing,” said Thuy. “Our future all-electric vehicle fleet will leverage NXP’s innovative, high-quality semiconductor solutions to enable safe, secure, and electric mobility as well as IoT solutions that remove barriers for the citizens of today’s smart cities.”

With the aim of expansive and rapid global market rollout and a vision for next-generation cities, this collaboration marks an important milestone in VinFast’s journey for the development of a “smarter, cleaner, and connected world for all.”

“We are excited to collaborate with VinFast, a company that is well positioned to identify and take advantage of the opportunities at the crossroads of automotive and smart cities,” said Lars Reger, CTO, of NXP Semiconductors. “We look forward to bringing our strong portfolio, expertise, and ecosystem to a relationship based on [an] inspiring and shared future vision.”

An example of the NXP portfolio revealed at CES 2023 was the new industry-first 28-nm RFCMOS radar one-chip IC family for next-generation ADAS and autonomous driving systems. It combines NXP’s high-performance radar sensing and processing technologies into a single device, offering Tier 1s and OEMs new flexibility in addressing short-, medium-, and long-range radar applications to meet more challenging New Car Assessment Program safety requirements.