VinFast said the leasing plan has important advantages over paying for the battery upfront.
“By separating the price of the battery from the acquisition value of the automobile, VinFast takes on all the risks related to the vehicle’s battery and ensures a reasonable price for its products,” the company said. “VinFast also commits to provide a lifetime battery warranty covering all maintenance and repair costs, and will replace the battery for free when charging capacity dips below 70 percent.”
Although there is no mechanism to opt out of the battery lease, the automaker said last week that the cost structure could change in 2024. Without providing details, VinFast said the total price of the battery could be split in half, with 50 percent reflected in the sticker and 50 percent in lease payments.
VinFast also announced new pricing for VF 8 and VF 9 variants, with two battery options.
For the VF 8, prices start at $40,700 for the base model with the smaller battery and run to $48,000 for the top trim with the larger battery.
Battery range runs from 248 miles to 292 miles based on the battery pack and trim, VinFast said.
Prices don’t include shipping costs, which VinFast did not provide. The company is marketing the crossovers as premium vehicles and selling them directly to consumers.
For the VF 9, the pricing runs from $55,500 for the base to $61,000 for the top-trim model, VinFast said. Range runs from 262 miles to 369 miles, the automaker said.
All range figures are subject to change when the EPA certifies official numbers for the U.S. market. VinFast did not provide battery size specifications as measured in kilowatt-hours.