Electrek reported a couple of weeks ago about a new electric scooter company coming to America. What’s different about VinFast is that it’s not just importing scooters to the US, it’s also importing a factory: The North Carolina facility, Electrek reports, is expected to break ground later this year, with production supposed to begin in 2024. The skids have reportedly been greased with a $1.2-billion incentive package from the state. There’s no need to get upset about US tax funds going to China, though, as VinFast is headquartered in Hanoi City, Vietnam.
Though then-President Trump disbanded the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal with Vietnam and a bunch of other trading partners in 2017, Vietnam and 10 other countries went ahead and signed the Comprehensive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in March, 2018. Since then, bilateral trade between the US and Vietnam has grown, and is expected to continue thriving. In fact as the US – China relationship sours, Vietnam is a beneficiary. Now they’re on our side!
VinFast’s website shows seven scooters spread over three categories: High Class, Intermediate, and Common. At MO, we go straight for High Class every time.
Your Theon Will is a 3500-watt High Class number said to be good for about 60 mph. Its LFP battery charges in 6 hours, but we’re not seeing a range specification. In fact the spec chart is pretty sketchy, but you can see the twin shocks, chain drive, decent-size wheels (14-inch maybe?), and the brakes are ABS equipped. The 69,900,000 Vietnamese dong list price represents $2,988.46 US today, but does not include the battery. Over there, apparently, you rent your battery for around $17 a month. It would appear that the Theon is one of the models VinFast will import or build here, as one of its spec charts is labelled “US Product Specification.”
There’s also a plain Theon that’ll only do 90 kph (55 mph), with no US spec chart.
The High Class Vento Will also lists US specs, and looks like it should be top-of-the-line, with its 5200-watt battery. In this case, more watts does not mean more speed, which is said to top out at 55 mph – and the smaller tires don’t really say high performance either. VinFast does spec a range of 160 km for this one, though, just about 100 miles – but that’s at an average speed of 18 mph. If you weigh 143 pounds. Yours for 56 million dong in Vietnam, or $2,394.
“Intermediate class” scooters include the Feliz Will, which also list US specs and sells for a bargain basement $1,278 in Vietnam. Say, that’s almost into my price range. Sadly, top speed is listed as 48.5 mph.
Anyway, it all sounds like fun to us, as the only other electric scooters out there are the somewhat pricey BMW CE 04 and a few Chinese models. More information over here at the VinFast website.
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