VINFAST Auto Philippines Corp. expects sales to top 8,000 units this year, citing the continuing impact of high fuel prices, which are driving demand towards its battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
“I project our sales to exceed 8,000 units, because we expect maybe about a thousand per month sold from October to December,” VinFast Deputy Chief Executive Officer Victor Jose Vela told reporters on Monday.
At the end of September, the Vietnamese brand’s sales hit 5,417 units, against 115 a year earlier.
It was the top-selling BEV brand during the nine-month period, according to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc.
Mr. Vela attributed VinFast’s high sales this year to demand for more energy-efficient modes of transport after fuel prices turned volatile in the wake of the Middle East fighting.
“People are opting for alternative means of transportation, alternative sources of fuel, which is the electrified segment,” he noted.
In the Philippines, Mr. Vela said its VF3 all-electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) has been the brand’s top selling model, accounting for 70% of VinFast sales.
VinFast is launching its VF8 all-new electric SUV in November, he said. The VF8 is classified as a D-segment car, the European designation for large family cars and compact executive cars.
“We have another three to four new models to be introduced in the next six months,” Mr. Vela said.
Also on Monday, VinFast launched its online-to-offline (O2O) platform in the Philippines, which will allow users to explore and order VinFast vehicles online, book test drives, and arrange deliveries.
“The key advantages now are convenience, transparent pricing, and a more personal experience for our customers,” VinFast O2O Platform Deputy Chief Executive Officer Roxildes Lacerna said during the launch.
The O2O platform will not compete with dealerships, he said, noting that while some customers prefer to buy their vehicles online, others choose the onsite option.
“It complements them by giving our customers more choices and flexibility in how they would like to buy their next vehicle,” Mr. Lacerna said.
VinFast has about 40 dealerships in the Philippines, with most of them concentrated in Metro Manila. The company is hoping to expand to 60 dealerships by year’s end.
Its parent firm Vingroup has announced plans to build a P32-billion production facility in the Philippines and expressed interest in availing of tax incentives for local vehicle manufacturing. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz