VinFast VF7 Electric SUV: Vietnamese EV maker VinFast is clearly serious about its India plans – the company’s VF7 electric SUV has been spotted testing in Mumbai, giving us our first proper look at what could be the brand’s debut offering for Indian roads.
The test mule was caught on camera being transported on a flatbed trailer near Mumbai airport, finished in the brand’s signature Jet Black paint. What’s interesting here is that this isn’t just any international-spec VF7 – there are subtle but telling changes that suggest VinFast has been doing its homework for Indian conditions.
VinFast VF7 India Variant Gets Practical Modifications
The most obvious change? Those wheels. While the VF7 showcased at Auto Expo 2025 earlier this year came with 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres, this Mumbai-spotted test car is running 19-inch wheels with 245/50 R19 Apollo Aspire rubber.
Now, anyone who’s driven on Indian roads knows why this makes sense. Those chunky sidewalls will definitely help with ride comfort when you’re navigating our, let’s say, “character-rich” road surfaces. It’s a smart move that shows VinFast isn’t just blindly importing their global-spec car.
The spy shots also reveal some promising tech features. There’s a camera-based ADAS suite mounted behind the windshield, wing mirror cameras (hello, 360-degree camera system), and what appears to be a large central infotainment screen – though we can’t tell if it’s the 12.9-inch or the premium 15-inch unit from the international markets.
Read Also: 2026 Kia EV9 Gets Stylish Nightfall Edition and Range Boost- Check Details
Specifications and Performance Details
Internationally, the VF7 comes in two flavors. The Eco variant gets a single front motor pumping out 201 bhp and 310 Nm, good for a claimed 450 km WLTP range. Step up to the Plus, and you’re looking at a dual-motor AWD setup with 349 bhp and 500 Nm, though range drops slightly to 431 km. Both use the same 75.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The big question is whether VinFast will bring both variants to India or start with just one. Given our market’s price sensitivity, my money’s on the single-motor Eco variant leading the charge.
VinFast VF7 India Launch Date and Expected Price
VinFast has been pretty consistent about their timeline – they’re targeting a festive season launch, which puts us somewhere around October 2025. That’s smart timing, coinciding with when Indian buyers typically open their wallets for big purchases.
Pricing is expected to land in the ₹20-30 lakh bracket, which puts it squarely against the BYD Atto 3. The Atto 3 currently retails between ₹24.99 lakh and ₹33.99 lakh, so VinFast will need to be competitive – especially as a relatively unknown brand in India.
Manufacturing and Local Assembly Plans
Here’s where things get interesting. VinFast isn’t just importing these cars – they’re setting up local assembly at their new facility in Tamil Nadu. The company has confirmed CKD (Completely Knocked Down) operations with an initial capacity of 50,000 units, scalable to 1.5 lakh units based on demand.
Local assembly should help VinFast price the VF7 more aggressively. Plus, they’re apparently evaluating a battery leasing model similar to what MG offers with their BaaS program. That could bring down the upfront cost significantly.
VinFast India Strategy and Market Competition
VinFast’s India strategy seems well thought out. They’re starting with the VF7 as their premium offering, then planning to bring the smaller VF6, and eventually more affordable models like the VF3 next year. It’s a classic top-down approach that many international brands have used successfully in India.
The Vietnamese brand made quite an impression at Auto Expo 2025, even winning the “New Brand Debut” honor. But auto shows are one thing – the real test will be how Indian buyers respond to a relatively unknown brand, especially in the premium EV space where trust and service network matter as much as the product itself.
With Tesla still playing hard to get and Chinese brands facing their own challenges, there might just be room for a Vietnamese player to shake things up. The VF7’s Mumbai sighting suggests VinFast is moving from auto show promises to actual market preparation – and that’s always a good sign.
The festive season launch can’t come soon enough. Indian EV buyers could use more options, and VinFast seems ready to provide them.