There are ambitious car companies, and then there is VinFast.
After recently spending a week in Vietnam touring the company’s sprawling manufacturing complex just outside Hanoi, experiencing the breadth of the VinGroup ecosystem, and driving some of the brand’s newest electric vehicles, one thing became clear: VinFast is not just trying to participate in the global automotive industry—it is attempting to reshape it at a pace few automakers would dare attempt.
The scale of the ambition becomes evident the moment you arrive in Vietnam. It is impossible to miss the presence of VinGroup. The conglomerate’s footprint seems to extend everywhere—from transportation and real estate to retail, hospitality, healthcare, and tourism. Whether staying at a resort, traveling in an electric vehicle, or passing through major urban centers, the VinGroup name appears with remarkable frequency. It has become one of the defining corporate forces behind modern Vietnam’s rapid transformation.
That same sense of scale is reflected in VinFast itself.
World-class manufacturing plant
Our journey took us to Hai Phong, home to VinFast’s massive state-of-the-art manufacturing complex. The facility is among the most impressive automotive plants I have visited (and I’ve been to automotive factories in Japan, Korea, China, Germany, Italy and the US). Spanning hundreds of hectares, it represents the kind of industrial investment typically associated with legacy brands rather than a company that only entered the car business less than 10 years ago.
Walking through the factory floor, the message was unmistakable: VinFast is moving fast—and doing so with purpose. The production lines are highly automated (they use the same robots as BMW), the facilities remarkably modern, and the overall operation demonstrates a level of sophistication that would surprise anyone who still views Vietnam as an emerging manufacturing nation.
The tour also revealed how aggressively VinFast has expanded its capabilities. The company has built an ecosystem that extends beyond car-making, encompassing battery production, electric mobility solutions, charging infrastructure, and related services (almost exactly how BYD does it, but at a smaller scale—for now).
Of course, factories tell only part of the story. The real test comes when you get behind the wheel.
Proof of the pudding
Our driving program at the picturesque Vinpearl Resort in Nha Trang included several of VinFast’s newest products, among them the VF6, VF7, and the recently launched VF MPV 7. The VF6 immediately struck me as a vehicle designed for modern urban mobility. Compact yet practical, it delivers the instant responsiveness expected from an electric vehicle while remaining easy to maneuver. It feels approachable, contemporary, and well-suited to first-time EV buyers looking for a crossover that balances technology with everyday usability.
Stepping into the VF7, the experience becomes noticeably more premium. The vehicle carries a stronger visual presence, and the cabin exudes a level of sophistication that signals VinFast’s desire to compete with established global brands. On the road, the VF7 feels solid and composed, offering a refined driving experience that demonstrates how quickly the company’s engineering capabilities have developed.
Yet it was the VF MPV 7 that arguably made the strongest impression. As someone who has a soft spot for family cars, I approached the new electric people-mover with cautious optimism. What I discovered was a surprisingly polished package that exceeded expectations.
The first thing that stands out is space. The cabin comfortably accommodates seven passengers while its theater-style seating creates a sense of openness that families will appreciate. More impressive, however, is the vehicle’s refinement. Electric vehicles naturally benefit from low noise levels, but the VF MPV 7 delivers a degree of quietness and comfort that immediately enhances the driving experience. The ride quality is smooth and composed, making long journeys far less tiring. Build quality also proved impressive, with both the interior and exterior exhibiting a level of fit and finish that suggests considerable, if not exactly class-leading (yet), attention to detail.
Performance is equally reassuring. The electric powertrain provides smooth and effortless acceleration, while the vehicle’s overall demeanor inspires confidence behind the wheel. Rather than feeling like a budget-oriented EV, the VF MPV 7 comes across as a genuinely well-rounded family vehicle.
Many automakers spend decades building manufacturing capacity, developing multiple vehicle platforms, and establishing a recognizable brand identity. VinFast has attempted to compress that timeline into just a few years. The result is a company that moves with remarkable urgency and determination.
There are challenges ahead, of course. Global automotive expansion is never easy, and competition in the EV space grows fiercer by the day. Yet after seeing the Hai Phong factory firsthand, witnessing the reach of the VinGroup ecosystem, and driving the latest VinFast vehicles, it becomes difficult to dismiss the company as merely another ambitious startup.
The whole electrified ecosystem
While many emerging car brands focus solely on selling cars, VinFast is pursuing a much larger vision of mobility. The company has aggressively expanded into electric scooters, charging infrastructure, ride-hailing services, and fleet mobility solutions, creating what it describes as a comprehensive green transportation ecosystem.
That strategy is visible throughout Vietnam. Electric scooters have become an increasingly common sight on city streets, and VinFast has emerged as one of the country’s dominant players in the e-scooter segment. The company is now exporting that expertise across Southeast Asia, targeting markets where motorcycles and scooters remain the primary mode of daily transportation. Through battery-swapping technology, dedicated dealer networks, and extensive after-sales support, VinFast is attempting to accelerate electric mobility adoption beyond traditional passenger cars.
Equally significant is the growth of Green SM, the all-electric ride-hailing and mobility platform backed by the VinGroup ecosystem. What began as an electric taxi operation in Vietnam has evolved into a broader regional mobility project spanning multiple Southeast Asian markets. Green SM has expanded into Indonesia and the Philippines, while also pursuing growth opportunities in other regional markets. The platform utilizes VinFast electric vehicles exclusively, creating a powerful synergy between vehicle manufacturing and mobility services.
The scale of these ambitions is remarkable. In the Philippines alone, Green SM has partnered with dozens of transport operators and cooperatives to deploy thousands of VinFast electric vehicles for passenger transport and ride-hailing services. At the same time, affiliated companies within the VinGroup ecosystem are investing heavily in charging and battery-swapping infrastructure to support both four-wheel and two-wheel electric vehicles.
Seen from this perspective, VinFast’s factory in Hai Phong is not merely producing cars. It is supplying the hardware for a much broader ecosystem that encompasses personal mobility, public transport, ride-sharing, charging infrastructure, and electrified urban transportation. That integrated approach may ultimately prove to be one of the company’s greatest competitive advantages as it expands throughout Southeast Asia, and eventually in other markets.
The question is how far—and how fast—it can go.
