Vietnamese automotive start-up VinFast announced last week the launch of three smart SUV electric vehicles (EVs) with self-driving features and driving ranges of between 300km and 550km.
Founded in 2017 in Hanoi, Vietnam, VinFast’s launch of its three new models is part of the company’s vision of becoming a global smart electric car company while also serving to place Vietnam on the world auto industry map.
In 2020 it acquired Holden’s Lang Lang proving ground in Melbourne after GM pulled the plug on the iconic Australian auto brand earlier that year, although it is unclear if this means the Vietnam company plans to establish a presence on the local auto market.
The three new electric models include the VF31, a mid-size Segment C SUV, the VF32 mid-size Segment D SUV, and the VF33 large-size Segment E SUV. The VF31 comes only in an electric model, while both the VF32 and VF33 boast 2 electric versions and a gasoline version.
The VF31 SUV boasts an 85kW permanent electric motor with maximum torque of 190Nm powered by a 42kWh capacity battery and, at maximum charge, has a range of 300-kilometres. Measuring in at 4,300mm long and with a wheelbase of 2,611mm, the VF31 sports a 10-12.8-inch central screen and other traditional premium options.
The VF32 measures in at 4,750mm long with a 2,950mm wheelbase and comes in two electric models – one sporting 2 permanent magnet electric motors with a capacity of 300kW delivering maximum torque of 640Nm in the premium version, and the second with a single electric motor with a permanent magnet capacity of 150kW and maximum torque in the standard version of 320Nm.
Based on VinFast’s press release announcing the three new vehicles, it appears that both electric models will come with a 90kWh capacity battery and full-time 4-wheel drive and manage 504-kilometres after a full charge.
Finally, the VF33 comes with 2 permanent magnet electric motors with a capacity of 150kW and battery capacity of 106kW delivering 550-kilometres in range after a full charge.
VinFast was also keen to highlight the vehicles’ smart features, with all three models boasting at least level 2 or 3 autonomous features, and all three models’ premium versions coming with level 4 automation.
A total of 30 smart features are divided up into 7 separate groups – intelligent driver assistance system, adaptive lane control system, cruise control system active, multi-point collision warning system, comprehensive collision mitigation system, intelligent automatic parking system, and driver monitoring system.
VinFast claims that their SUVs are among a select handful around the world with level 3 autonomy features, part of the company’s larger effort to cement itself as a smart and autonomous vehicle R&D pioneer.
Looking specifically at the premium versions of all three models, the high-performance sensor systems include LiDAR sensors, 14 cameras capable of detecting objects up to 687-metres away, and 19 360-degrees sensors allowing warning and handling at high speeds above 100km/h.
The vehicles’ self-driving system is controlled by NVIDIA’s Orin-X chip which can process up to 200GB of data per second, which according to VinFast allows for “control and navigation up to eight times faster than current generations.”
The premium versions of all three models also include level 4 autonomous features such as automatic 3-dimensional mapping which allows for automatic parking and finding of the vehicle, as well as summoning the vehicle.
VinFast’s announcement comes at the same time that two regional rivals also revealing new self-driving electric vehicles. Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio unveiled the company’s first autonomous vehicle that it will launch in Q1 2022, and eventually be available with an ultra-long-range and high energy density 150 kWh solid-state battery pack from Q4 2022.
Meanwhile, Chinese smart EV company XPeng unveiled last week the beta version of its highway autonomous driving solution, Navigation Guided Pilot (NGP), in a series of media road tests in the Hong Kong port city of Guangzhou, and which will be available on the company’s P7 vehicle, which began delivery to customers in June of 2020.
Nio’s vehicle will also be powered by NVIDIA’s DRIVE Orin technology, while XPeng’s P7 sports NVIDIA’s Xacier system-on-the-chip computing platform.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.