Vinfast, a Vietnamese maker of electric vehicles, is expanding its Southern California footprint with four new stores in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

The stores, much like Tesla’s retail showrooms, opened Dec. 14 at Village at Westfield in Canoga Park, Waterside at Marina del Rey, and the Irvine Spectrum Center. Its showroom at Del Amo Fashion Center will open Saturday, Dec. 17 in Torrance.

The expansion boosts the company’s California store total to 10 locations, counting six July openings in Santa Monica, Commerce, San Diego, San Mateo, Berkeley and Corte Madera.

Vehicles are coming

Giang Nguyen, CEO of VinFast US, said the automaker is rapidly expanding its retail network to bring product experiences directly to customers. The company’s first batch of nearly a thousand VF 8 luxury SUVs has been exported and is expected to arrive in the U.S. next week.

“This will not only be where the customers learn more about VinFast’s products but also a place to connect VinFast to the customers and take care of them for a lifetime of car ownership,” Nguyen said in a statement.

The VF 9 all-wheel-drive vehicle, roughly the size of a Kia Telluride, is priced from $57,500 with a monthly battery subscription, or $76,000 including the battery when the car is purchased. (Photo courtesy of VinFast)

The company is showcasing its VF 8 midsize luxury SUV and VF 9 all-wheel-drive vehicle.

The VF 8 is about the size of a Honda CRV and priced starting at $42,200 plus a monthly battery subscription, or $57,000 with a battery included as part of the sales price. Its driving range, depending on battery-pack options, ranges from 248 to 292 miles per charge, according to Car and Driver.

The VF 9 all-wheel-drive vehicle, roughly the size of a Kia Telluride, is priced from $57,500 with a monthly battery subscription, or $76,000 including the battery. Car and Driver lists its driving range at up to 369 miles per charge.

High-tech features

The vehicles include a slew of advanced technologies, bundled as part of the VinFast Smart Driving package.

The VF 9, for example, has three rows of seats, a 15.6-inch infotainment display and a variety of driver-assistance features, including automated emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring, a lane-departure warning system and adaptive cruise control with lane centering.

VinFast, a member of the technology and industry conglomerate Vingroup, was one of the few foreign businesses awarded a California Competes Tax Credit given by the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.

The company’s $20.5 million tax credit is the largest CalCompetes tax credit ever awarded to an automaker and one of the top 10 largest awards given to any company in the program’s 10-year history.

VinFast has invested in regional offices, a call center and a network of storefronts throughout California to help introduce its brand and products to U.S. customers and expand investment plans in the future.

The company’s stores are designated as 1S, 2S, and 3S.

VinFast 1S stores are primarily located in high-visibility shopping centers and are focused on vehicle display and sales. 2S stores are located on major thoroughfares, offering parts and service as well as support to nearby 1S stores. VinFast 3S stores — the largest of the three types — offer vehicle and parts sales, along with full-service centers.

Launched in 2017, VinFast owns an automotive manufacturing complex in Hai Phong, Vietnam, where operations are 90% automated. The facilities are capable of producing up to 250,000 cars and up to 500,000 electric scooters a year.