The VinFast VF 8 has left Vietnam and is on its way to the U.S., the Vietnamese car company said late last week. 

VinFast said that the first shipment of 999 VF 8 mid-size electric SUVs will arrive at a port in California in December and be sent to customers before the end of the year.

VinFast has made very quick progress into the U.S. market. Only in 2018 did VinFast show off its first car,

 but less than five years later, the company has already switched to electric cars, and the VF 8 is coming to the U.S.

When interest in electric crossover SUVs is growing. There will be more VinFast models to come.

The 999 VF 8s are the first of more than 65,000 orders from customers outside of Vietnam. VinFast said that exports to other markets, like Canada and Europe, will start at the beginning of 2023. 

That's also when VinFast will start sending its full-size electric SUV, the VF 9, to other countries.When ordered with a battery subscription

he VF 8 starts at $42,200 and the VF 9 starts at $57,500. In this case, buyers will have to sign up for a $169 per month subscription for the VF 8 and a $219 per month subscription for the VF 9. 

Buyers can also choose to buy the cars with the cost of the battery included. In this case, the VF 8 starts at $57,000 and the VF 9 starts at $76,000.

Both cars have up to 402 hp, all-wheel drive, a range of 300 miles or more, and a warranty that lasts for 10 years or 125,000 miles.

VinFast plans to add crossovers for the VF 5, VF 6, and VF 7 as well as the VF 8 and VF 9. At the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2022, all five cars were shown for the first time together.

VinFast's main plant is in Hai Phong, Vietnam, but in March, the company said it was planning to build a plant in Chatham County, North Carolina.

 The U.S. plant is set to open in 2024 and will have an initial capacity of 150,000 vehicles per year. It will be used to make both cars and batteries. 

The VF 8 and VF 9 will be the first cars, and tax credits will be given for making them locally.