The VinFast VF6 and VF7 will be the first two models to be assembled and launched in India by the Vietnamese EV brand later this year, and both will get some special tweaks for our market.

As a new brand trying to make inroads in a highly competitive market, VinFast says it wants to make a big first impression, and as such is targeting a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating for both its models.

India among first RHD markets for VinFast

VinFast has thus far operated in left-hand-drive markets only, including its home market of Vietnam. It is concurrently setting up two factories, one in India and the other in Indonesia, which are coincidentally, both right-hand-drive markets.

Ours will therefore likely be the first market where RHD models are produced and sold, and in developing these versions, the company took the opportunity to engineer in some changes specific to the Indian market.

For one, the ride height has been visibly raised on both the VF6 and VF7, when seen alongside a left-hand-drive model, with the ground clearance standing at 190mm. This, along with using slightly smaller wheels and higher-profile tyres (Apollo tyres, in the case of the VF7), is intended to help the EVs tackle our road conditions better.

Features tailored to India with a focus on safety

That aside, many adjustments have been made to the features list for the Indian market too. A wireless phone charger has been added to the VF7, for example, which is not standard in other markets, and what was said to be a 'non negotiable' for India was one-litre bottle holders in each door.

Additionally, ventilated front seats were made part of the package as they're in such high demand, and the air conditioner compressor was optimised for Indian conditions as well. When asked about the large fixed glass roof and its potential to heat up the car when parked in the sun, an engineer told us that feedback has already been taken into consideration, and a heat shield solution will be put in place for India.

Finally, on the safety front, to help target that 5 star Bharat NCAP rating, 7 airbags have been made standard across the range, and Level 2 ADAS is on offer. Moreover, a driver HUD (heads up display) will be included for India to help prevent driver distraction, as both the VF6 and VF7 do not have an instrument cluster at all; vital data like speed, range and more are displayed in the driver-side corner of the touchscreen by default.

With production said to begin as early as July and an official market launch before the end of 2025, VinFast is in the final stages of readying its big India entry.