VinFast VF e34 Spotted Testing On Indian Roads, Vietnamese Electric SUV To Rival Tata Nexon EV And Mahindra XUV400

Quick Highlight

• VinFast VF e34 EV SUV spied testing under heavy camouflage on Indian roads.

• VinFast had earlier signed an MOU with the government of Tamil Nadu to set up a manufacturing plant. 

• The VF e34 could be the brand’s first offering in India, with further possibility of complete localisation. 

• VinFast could also export models from India to overseas markets in the future. 

Ever heard of VinFast before? Well, soon you will be seeing cars from the Vietnamese brand on Indian roads as they have started testing their cars. The VinFast VF e34 EV SUV has been spied testing under heavy camouflage, suggesting it to be the first offering from VinFast in India.

VinFast is all gearing up to start its operations in India, with its 400 acre manufacturing facility being constructed in SIPCOT (State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu) industrial estate, Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu). Let us take a look at the spied images and try to decipher everything about the VinFast VF e34 EV.

VinFast VF e34: Exterior

The VinFast VF e34 is a 5-seater compact EV SUV from the Vietnamese brand, which is already on sale in a few markets overseas. The front gets a sloping hood line with connected LED DRLs forming a V in the centre and a petal-like headlamp cluster placed a bit below on the bumpers. This being an EV, gets a covered front fascia with vents for the battery situated down below, also housing the ADAS radar and sensors.

From the side, it looks just like any other conventional compact SUV with a hunkered up stance and high window line and shoulder line. It gets 18-inch alloy wheels and the quarter glass on the C-pillars, further amplifying its SUV silhouette. 

The back features elongated tail-lamps running across the width of the vehicle with a kink in the middle along for the VinFast logo. It gets rear wiper with washer and the brake lights can be seen situated in the roof mounted spoiler and reflectors can be seen on the bumpers down below. Furthermore, the VinFast VF e34 when tested under ASEAN NCAP in 2021, scored a 4 star rating. 

VinFast VF e34: Interior And Features On Board

Though the spy shots of the test mule spotted could not capture its interiors, the internationally sold VinFast VF e34 gets simple yet functional interiors. It features a 10-inch vertically aligned touchscreen infotainment system with connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and 6-speakers, a 7-inch digital driver’s display, keyless entry, single-zone automatic climate control, push button start/stop function, 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat and over the air (OTA) updates. Unfortunately, there isn’t any sunroof option on offer, though the Indian models could get one upon launch. 

On the safety front, it is equipped with 6-airbags, ABS with EBD, and ADAS features like blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control, rear cross traffic alert and a 360-degree camera with surround view and rear parking assist. The VinFast VF e34 is sold internationally in a single variant option with 7 different colour hues to choose from. 

VinFast VF e34: Powertrain

The VinFast VF e34 sold in the international markets, gets a 41.9 kWh battery which powers a single front-wheel drive motor producing 150 PS  and 242 Nm. It gets three driving modes: Eco, Comfort and Sport with a WLTP claimed range of 318 km. Upon fast-charging, the VF e34 can be charged from 10 percent to 70 percent in 27 minutes. It gets a top-speed of 130 kmph and a sprint from standstill to 100 kmph comes up in under 9 seconds. 

It is 4300 mm long,  1768 mm wide, and 1615 mm tall. Its wheelbase sits at 2611 mm with a ground clearance of 165 mm.

VinFast VF e34 Launch And Rivals

The VinFast VF e34 is expected to launch in 2026, with the first few models expected to enter as CBUs (Completely Built Units) and localisation could start once the manufacturing plant becomes completely operational. It is expected to be priced around Rs 25 lakh and will take on the EV SUV segment rivaling the Tata Nexon EV, Mahindra XUV400, MG ZS EV and the upcoming Hyundai Creta EV.

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