VinFast VF9 REEV: Research plan to expand scope

VinFast is considering equipping some upcoming models with small internal combustion engines as battery generators to extend their range, instead of just producing pure electric vehicles as it does now, Reuters reported. A research team was set up in November to look into converting the VF9 SUV into an extended-range electric vehicle (REEV). The sources stressed that the plan is still in its early stages and the company is also considering hybrid models.

Responding to Reuters about product orientation, Vingroup , the unit in charge of communications for VinFast, said it would not miss the opportunity to research and develop new products that suit customer needs and market trends. Vingroup said the overall strategy has not changed, and official details will be announced at the right time.

VF9 and the REEV approach

REEV uses two power sources including an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, similar to a hybrid car. However, unlike a hybrid, the internal combustion engine on REEV does not drive the wheels but only charges the battery when needed, thereby extending the operating range.

Reuters said VinFast posted at least three job postings on LinkedIn in November looking for REEV experts. The news agency also did not specify whether VinFast would develop the technology itself or buy it.

Milestones according to Reuters

November: Form a research team to turn the VF9 into a REEV by equipping it with a small gasoline engine that is only used to charge the battery.
Recruitment: At least three REEV specialist positions posted on LinkedIn.
Scope of consideration: In addition to REEV, the company is also considering a hybrid model.
Status: Plans are preliminary; details will be released as appropriate.

Expected impact on business operations

The REEV research move is aimed at boosting sales and expanding overseas amid mounting losses that have put pressure on parent company Vingroup, according to Reuters. VinFast currently produces about a dozen models, mostly small city cars. In the first nine months of the year, the company sold about 104,000 cars domestically, accounting for nearly 95% of global sales.

The VF9 is VinFast’s most expensive model, accounting for about 1% of sales in Vietnam. The model has been exported to the US and Canada, but in low numbers, according to Reuters.

Summary of plan according to Reuters source

Category	Detail
REEV research model	VF9
Technical solutions	Small internal combustion engine acts as a generator to charge the battery, does not drive the wheels
Plan status	Preliminary
Recruitment	At least 3 REEV specialist positions (LinkedIn, November)
Extended Scope	Also consider hybrid models
Target	Boost sales, expand international markets, curb losses
REEV Technology	Unclear whether self-developed or acquired

Commitment to transformation and market context

Reuters recalled that VinFast had stopped producing gasoline-powered cars and switched to electric vehicles by 2022. In the same year, the company joined the COP26 declaration on green transition for cars, committing to exclusively sell zero-emission vehicles in leading markets by 2035 and globally by 2040.

Environmentally, REEVs produce emissions, but according to Reuters, they are typically less than plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). In terms of intellectual property, the World Intellectual Property Organization recorded that VinFast held nearly 80 patents in 2023, lower than Tesla's 347 patents and much less than the number of patents held by major traditional automakers.

Reuters also reported that Chinese electric vehicle makers including Li Auto and Leapmotor are producing REEVs, while traditional automakers are also developing similar options. In Vietnam, a country facing severe air pollution, plans to curb gasoline vehicles will begin with a ban on gasoline-powered motorbikes in central Hanoi from mid-2026.

Unanswered Questions

According to Vingroup's response to Reuters, VinFast's overall strategy has not changed but details will be announced at the appropriate time. The roadmap, scope of implementation, and whether the company will develop or acquire REEV technology are currently unclear.

All information related to the VF9 REEV and the possibility of a hybrid is at a preliminary level according to sources cited by Reuters. Further developments, if any, will confirm VinFast's technical and market orientation in the coming period.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/vinfast-vf9-reev-phuong-an-nghien-cuu-mo-rong-pham-vi-10313815.html