Business
VinFast’s VF 8 Challenges Assumptions on EV Trade‑Offs
MARKHAM, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As Canada races toward its all‑electric 2035 goal, the VinFast VF 8 positions itself to win over drivers torn between
About this update from Vinfast Auto Ltd.
[{"type":"text","content":" MARKHAM, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nAs Canada races toward its all‑electric 2035 goal, the VinFast VF 8 positions itself to win over drivers torn between ambition, affordability and practicality—showing that going green can mean gaining more, not giving up.\n\n\nThe clock is ticking toward 2035, when Canada plans to require all new cars to run on electricity. Yet two-thirds of Canadians say this goal is unrealistic1, with paused rebates and tariff disputes adding to the feeling that drivers shoulder the risks of this transition.\n\n\nSurveys suggest that interest in electric vehicles (EVs) persists, provided affordability and practicality come first. A June survey found that 45 percent of Canadians are considering an EV for their next purchase2. And J.D. Power’s 2025 Canada Electric Vehicle Consideration Study shows a steady 28 percent of new-vehicle shoppers “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to consider an EV, down just one point from 2024 despite the suspension of the federal Incentives for Zero Emissions Vehicles program.\n\n\nWith early adopters largely accounted for, the next wave of buyers represents the mass market, often driven more by technology than ideology. The trend is prevalent particularly in younger generations: 54 percent of Millennials and 51 percent of Generation Z say their next car will likely be electric3. Growing up with smartphones, they likely expect vehicles that update overnight, store preferences and integrate features like voice-controlled heated steering wheels.\n\n\nOf course, concerns persist. For drivers without home charging, 74 % say reliable public fast-charging is a deciding factor in any future EV purchase4. Price is another hurdle: the average EV in Canada costs about C$73,000, compared to C$66,000 for a new ICE vehicle, according to the latest available Canadian Black Book data5.\n\n\nAn Upgrade Without Compromise\n\n\nThe VF 8, a mid-size SUV from EV maker VinFast—the top-selling car brand in Vietnam in 2024—offers an alternative. Many Canadians still fear that going electric requires compromise. The VF 8 aims to counter that perception by combining range, performance and everyday usability at a lower price.\n\n\nStarting at C$53,600, roughly C$20,000 below the Canadian EV average, it delivers up to 412 kilometers per charge, 402 horsepower and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.5 sec...