Electric vehicles are attracting customers.

The boost from fuel prices, coupled with aggressive incentive policies, is creating a clear wave of green vehicle conversions in Ho Chi Minh City. No longer just looking around, many people have already put down deposits.

With soaring gasoline prices, people are rushing to switch to electric vehicles - Photo: VF

Observations made in mid-March show a clear increase in the number of customers viewing electric vehicle dealerships along roads with a high concentration of dealerships in Ho Chi Minh City, such as Nguyen Tri Phuong, Nguyen Chi Thanh, Phan Van Tri, and National Highway 13.

Inside many dealerships, people were asking about prices, test-driving bikes, and inquiring about driving range per charge. Some customers were placing deposits because the models they wanted were out of stock for immediate delivery.

With increased customer demand, many car models are experiencing delivery delays.

According to many stores, sales have surged in recent days. The most frequently inquired models are the mainstream ones, suitable for commuting to work, school, and city driving. Customers ask quite detailed questions about monthly electricity costs, battery replacement costs, charging time, battery replacement locations, and delivery times. Many people are checking their phones to calculate usage costs while looking at the bikes.

The manager of an electric scooter shop on National Highway 13 in Ho Chi Minh City also said that the number of customers has increased significantly after the recent gasoline price adjustment. Previously, the shop sold about 6-8 scooters a day, but in recent days, they have sold nearly 20 scooters on some days.

According to this person, the increasing group of customers includes not only students or parents buying cars for their children, but also office workers, small business owners, delivery people, and ride-hailing drivers.

"Some customers had been looking into it for a long time but hesitated. The recent increase in gasoline prices made them decide faster. Some came to look in the morning and returned in the afternoon to place a deposit," said Ms. Huyen, a sales consultant at an electric motorbike dealership.

Most of the cars on display here have already been ordered and are awaiting license plates. If a customer wants a specific color but the store doesn't have it in stock, the waiting time for it to be replenished from the warehouse is approximately one to two days.

Although the electric vehicle market is more vibrant, the increase is not uniform across all brands. "Customers are very practical now. They prioritize models that are affordable, easy to repair, easy to replace or swap batteries, and convenient for daily commuting. Vehicles with clearly defined running costs are easier to sell," shared Mr. Tran Vu Cau, Market Research Director of SYM Vietnam.

Currently, electric vehicle models on the market are commonly priced between 25 and 35 million VND, suitable for urban commuting needs. Some higher-end models cost over 40 million VND and offer longer driving ranges per charge.

Rising gasoline prices are causing people to switch to electric vehicles and use public transportation more often - Illustration photo

The buyer recalculated each expense item.

Ms. Thuy Trang, residing in Duc Nhuan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, recently placed a deposit on an electric scooter with interchangeable batteries after nearly a month of looking at various options. She works in an office and commutes about 40km round trip daily. Previously, her gasoline expenses ranged from 45,000 to 50,000 VND per day, not including oil changes, maintenance, tires, and other minor repairs. "I didn't buy it because it was trendy. I calculated all the costs and clearly saw the advantages of an electric scooter," Ms. Trang said.

She mentioned that she opened her personal expense chart to compare gasoline and electric vehicles. With electric vehicles, the total operating costs are lower. While out and about, she also saw more battery swapping stations, which made her more confident in her decision to buy an electric motorbike.

Anh Quoc, 31, works as a delivery driver for a ride-hailing service and is looking into an electric scooter costing over 30 million VND. He drives 60-70km daily, sometimes nearly 90km.

"My job is based on profit per trip. With rising gasoline prices, the cost might only increase by a few tens of thousands of dong a day, but the difference over the month is significant," Quốc said. His main concerns are the range per charge, the vehicle's durability, and whether it can meet his daily driving needs. "Nowadays, ride-hailing apps prioritize electric vehicle drivers, leading to more trips and significantly improved driving efficiency," Quốc added.

Not only motorcyclists, but car users are also starting to compare costs. At an electric car showroom in Hiep Binh ward, Mr. Le Minh, the owner of a small business in the mechanical engineering sector, is looking into buying an electric car.

According to dealers, the current trend shows that buyers no longer view electric vehicles as a "try-out" option but have begun to see it as a serious cost-benefit analysis. They ask more detailed questions about range, charging time, battery, warranty, roadside assistance, and monthly operating costs than about color or style.

Infrastructure and incentives provide support.

A representative from an electric vehicle dealership in a ward of Ho Chi Minh City said that this latest increase in gasoline prices has clearly changed customer sentiment. "Previously, customers would ask questions and then put them aside, saying they would think about it at home. These past few days, many people have been putting down deposits immediately after viewing the vehicles," the representative said.

According to this source, the battery swapping model is helping many people worry less when buying electric vehicles. Previously, many customers were concerned about having to wait for hours to charge or not having suitable charging locations. Now, with the availability of vehicles with swappable batteries, this concern has been reduced. In addition to infrastructure, the market is also boosted by incentive programs and financial support.

According to businesses, while the biggest barriers used to be the initial purchase price and concerns about infrastructure, these two factors are now gradually being removed. With rising gasoline prices, electric vehicles are becoming a more widely considered option.

Gas prices may have fallen, but the way consumers calculate their transportation costs has changed. In that calculation, electric vehicles are increasingly seen as a more suitable option for daily commuting needs.

CONG TRUNG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/xe-dien-hut-khach-20260314083041492.htm