VinFast ute leads new model avalanche

A dual-cab ute is among 11 potential vehicles the ambitious Vietnamese start-up VinFast has registered for what it calls “industrial design protection”.

VinFast released the images this week not long after it commenced operations at the Lang Lang testing centre south-east of Melbourne it bought from General Motors for a reputed $30 million in September.

It also has a development centre near the old Holden site in Fishermens Bend and has hired hundreds of former Holden staff to work there.

Among them is the record-setting ‘Green Hell’ test driver Rob Trubiani, who spent years developing vehicles at Lang Lang.

VinFast revealed very few technical details of any of the vehicles it showed off, other than to state some would include electrified powertrains. Two electric scooters were also revealed.

There was no confirmation of how many would definitely be built and what the production order might be.

Apart from the very American-looking pick-up, the official drawings included a four-door coupe, two different takes on a coupe SUV, a mini-SUV, a small three-door hatchback, two MPV variations (including one that looked like an SUV), a large sedan, a van/people-mover and a tiny hatchback.

All models featured the distinctive V-shaped VinFast grille.

This explosion of potential models from VinFast would certainly grow it from its current narrow product base. It sells a small car based on the Opel Karl, a large sedan based on the mechanicals of the BMW 5 Series and a large SUV based on the BMW X5, including a model called the President fitted with a Chevrolet V8 engine.

An electric vehicle that will lead VinFast owner – and Vietnam’s richest man – Pham Nhat Vuong’s plan to enter the US market is also under development. It is due to go on-sale in 2021. The company recently revealed it had set up a technical centre in California.

While VinFast has made clear it wants to sell vehicles in Australia eventually, it has not yet set a date for its arrival here.