Australians designed this VinFast electrical ute idea

Vietnamese carmaker VinFast, which as soon as arrange store in Australia and deliberate to promote automobiles right here, has revealed a brand new electrical ute idea with Australian DNA.

Revealed at this 12 months’s CES tech present in Las Vegas, the VinFast VF Wild electrical ute idea has been collectively developed with Melbourne-based design agency Gomotiv.

The Vietnamese carmaker claims the VF Wild idea was developed over 8000 hours and concerned “many designers”.

Particulars on the electrical ute idea are few and much between, although VinFast has confirmed it measures in at 5324mm lengthy and 1997mm broad. That is just about similar in dimension to the Ford Ranger dual-cab ute.

The VF Wild idea additionally has a power-folding mid-gate which permits the mattress size to be expanded from 5 toes (1524mm) to eight toes (2438mm) when the rear seats are folded down.

Different distinguishing design embrace full-width entrance and rear LED mild bars, rear coach doorways, a panoramic glass sunroof, and digital aspect mirrors.

At this stage VinFast hasn’t detailed the VF Wild idea’s electrical motor and battery setup, nor if it plans to supply it.

“We’re very proud to introduce the VF Wild idea, which encapsulates our mission to make sustainable, high-quality electrical autos accessible to a broader market,” stated VinFast International deputy CEO of gross sales and advertising and marketing Tran Mai Hoa.

“This isn’t only a new product in our providing – it showcases our aspiration to enterprise into the fast-paced and thriving electrical pickup truck market.”

Along with the VF Wild idea, VinFast additionally publicly debuted the VF 3 three-door electrical SUV at CES. It’s set to launch in Vietnam first throughout 2024 earlier than launching “globally”.

VinFast beforehand detailed this tiny electrical SUV for the Vietnamese market.

The VinFast VF 3 measures in at 3190mm lengthy, 1679mm broad, and 1602mm tall, which is 290mm shorter, 34mm wider, and 118mm decrease than the Suzuki Jimny.

Regardless of its tiny exterior dimensions, the VF 3 continues to be technically a four-seater. The rear seats additionally fold all the way down to create a boot capability of 550 litres.

VinFast hasn’t detailed outputs for the VF 3’s electrical motor, although it has a focused vary of roughly 200km.

Inside there’s a ten.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Regardless of the VinFast VF 3 launching globally, it’s unlikely to be coming to Australia, although the Vietnamese agency is increasing globally with entries into the US and European markets.

VinFast is greatest recognized to Australians as the corporate that purchased the Lang Lang proving floor beforehand owned by Holden, earlier than closing its Port Melbourne design and engineering workplace in 2021.

There had been plans for the corporate to develop its next-generation petrol and electrical automobiles on Australian soil with a workers of round 100 ex-Ford, Holden, Jaguar Land Rover and Toyota staff.

This Aussie plan was squashed with the corporate pivoting its focus to North America and Europe, and to electrical autos.

Nonetheless a recent face on the automotive scene, VinFast was based in 2017 by property developer Phạm Nhật Vượng, who’s Vietnam’s first billionaire with a web value of round $6.9 billion.

The corporate initially produced sedans and SUVs based mostly closely on BMWs, earlier than ending manufacturing of combustion-powered autos and starting its rollout of electrical SUVs.