Could VinFast be launching in Malaysia soon? There’s no official word for now but it looks like the Vietnamese carmaker is testing its vehicles on our roads. Recently, paultan.org reader Haritharan Gunasegaran spotted an uncamouflaged VF5 (previously known as the VF e32) wearing local trade plates in Negeri Sembilan, which suggests VinFast is planning to make an entry here.
The sighting of the VF5 comes several weeks after another VinFast electric vehicle (EV), the VF e34, was also spotted wearing trade plates. The brand has already been launched in neighbouring Indonesia and Thailand, with a number of models announced for those markets.
The VF5 first made its debut at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) as an A-segment crossover that is positioned below the VF e34, VinFast’s first EV. In terms of dimensions, the VF5 measures 3,965 mm long, 1,720 mm wide, 1,580 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,513 mm, which makes it slightly larger than the current Perodua Myvi.
In its home country, the VF5 is offered as the VF5 Plus priced from 458 million Vietnamese dong or about RM85k. The powertrain features a front-mounted electric motor rated at 136 PS (134 hp or 100 kW) and 135 Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100 km/h time of 10.9 seconds.
The motor is powered by a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with an energy capacity of 37.23 kWh, which provides a NEDC-rated range of up to 326 km. With DC fast charging, the battery can get from a 10-70% state of charge in just 30 minutes.
The VF5 is currently listed on VinFast’s Thailand website with a reduced output of 95 PS (94 hp or 70 kW) and less range at 260 km (also NEDC), the latter likely due to a smaller battery. Thailand media outlets report the VF5 will be launched there sometime in August or September, after the VF e34 goes on sale this month.
Given the current RM100,000 minimum price cap for imported EVs in Malaysia, the VF5, if it were to be sold here, can’t be priced below that amount. This is also the case for the Neta V, which is about the same size as the VF5 and with similar outputs.
Stepping away from the cars, a quick check on LinkedIn for anything with the keywords ‘VinFast’ and ‘Malaysia’ led us to a person named Jean Jacques, who lists his current role as the deputy CEO of VinFast Indonesia and Malaysia. Perhaps there’s more truth to VinFast launching here. Would you want to buy a VinFast EV in Malaysia? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
GALLERY: Vinfast VF 5
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No one wants them why stupid Malaysia dealers bring them in . Do your market research la .
VinFast VF5 is not that fast.
Do not buy this EV… i repeat, do not buy it.
Go check Youtube and see the car blog’s comment on this crap
“The powertrain features a front-mounted electric motor rated at 136 PS (134 hp or 100 kW) and 135 Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100 km/h time of 10.9 seconds.”
134hp but 0-100 almost 11 seconds? That is SLOWWW. I highly doubt that this car pricing will be competitive against the likes of the Chinese cars.
Also, there are so many bad reviews on Vinfast in the US. Highly ambitious company, but I don’t think they will survive against the Chinese cars.
Haa, new pendatang to make Proton shiver
the only brand i trust less than china brands
Habis la Proton, stil eating curry puff n goyang kaki wit nasi lemak n teh tarik. No wonder unable to produce our very own model.
say no to bad ev’s like this
stay 1000000 miles from them, vinfast very fast to workshops and no come out …
Semua mau launching here. Kereta yang sudah lebih 10 tahun takda buat program pelupusan. makin penuh la jalanraya.
After noodles, spring roll and coffee, next is their EV. Malaysians can’t get enough of Vietnamese products!
Will people buy their cars or will they do well here? With our high roadtaxes on foreign cars
and our automotive market so small, only a few people will buy them
If you think Chinese brands are bad, wait until you see the Vinfast