{"id":72862,"date":"2026-01-16T12:11:47","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T04:11:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/?p=72862"},"modified":"2026-01-16T12:11:47","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T04:11:47","slug":"vinfast-marks-one-year-of-ph-operations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/2026\/01\/16\/vinfast-marks-one-year-of-ph-operations\/","title":{"rendered":"VinFast marks one year of PH operations"},"content":{"rendered":"

2025 was VinFast\u2019s first full year operating in the Philippines, and it did not unfold quietly. From the outset, the company treated the market as one that required momentum, not patience. Products, partnerships, and policy moved forward together, guided by a simple belief inside the organization, adoption accelerates when hesitation is addressed early.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dealer expansion happened alongside aftersales planning. Charging infrastructure rolled out in parallel with financing programs and ownership guarantees. Rather than waiting for demand to mature on its own, VinFast worked to remove the obstacles that typically slow first-time EV buyers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are still in the early stages of setting up operations in the Philippines,\u201d said Antonio \u201cToti\u201d Zara, CEO of VinFast Southeast Asia, during a media event this year. \u201cRight now, we\u2019re building the organization, the dealer network, and the ecosystem. Our focus is translating that ecosystem into tangible benefits for Filipino consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the months passed, those benefits began to show up on the road, and increasingly, in how local media described the brand.<\/p>\n

Products That Fit Daily Use, Seen and Tested<\/strong><\/p>\n

VinFast\u2019s approach to the Philippine lineup reflected an understanding of daily driving realities. The country received almost the full range, allowing the brand to cover a wide span of use cases from the start.<\/p>\n

The VF 3 and VF 5 addressed dense urban use, tight parking, and short daily trips. The VF 6 and VF 7 brought space, comfort, and long distance capability into the mix, aimed at families and professionals. At the top of the range sits the VF 9, the flagship model that offers everything VinFast has to offer, turned up several notches.<\/p>\n

Despite VinFast being a young brand, observers began to notice a consistency across the lineup.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the exterior to the interior, VinFast has its own design language. It doesn\u2019t feel copied,\u201d said one member from the media after driving several VinFast models in both the Philippines and Vietnam. \u201cEven when you ride in them as [Green GSM] taxis, the cars always feel solid. That consistency gives you confidence, especially knowing this is a young brand.\u201d<\/p>\n

That impression was reinforced when Philippine media traveled to Vietnam in October to visit VinFast\u2019s facilities. One outlet that has followed the company since its early days described a clear shift after testing the vehicles. VF 3, VF 6, and VF 9.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the first things I noticed was that the quality of the VinFast vehicles has dramatically improved. Gone are the hollow feeling interior plastics, and the obvious panel gaps,\u201d the outlet wrote following the October tour.<\/p>\n

Among the models, the VF 6 stood out. It was described as a crossover with \u201cthe right ride height, and an interior that is a good mix of affordable and premium materials.\u201d The assessment carried weight, particularly because the VF 6 is one of the newer models in the Philippine lineup, launched in April.<\/p>\n

After-Sales Coverage That Shrinks Distance<\/strong><\/p>\n

Service access remains one of the most practical concerns for Filipino buyers considering EVs. VinFast moved early to address this by expanding beyond a dealership-only service model.<\/p>\n

Throughout 2025, the company partnered with established service chains including Motech, JIGA, Goodyear Philippines, Tire King, Power Tread, and Marcjan Cavite. The goal was coverage first. By accrediting these workshops to handle preventive maintenance, warranty repairs, diagnostics, and software updates, VinFast pushed toward a nationwide footprint of more than 100 authorized service locations.<\/p>\n

In a press release, Johann Rommel Naguiat, President and CEO of Motech Automotive Philippines, described the partnership as the \u201cfirst of its kind\u201d, framing it as an \u201canywhere, anytime\u201d benefit. \u201cWith Motech’s network of stores and the reputation it has built in its communities, VinFast customers can drive with confidence that their VinFast vehicle will be well cared for, anywhere at any time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ownership concerns were addressed further with the launch of the Residual Value Guarantee program. Introduced this year, the policy guarantees up to 90 percent of a vehicle\u2019s original value after six months, followed by a fixed depreciation schedule over the next three years.<\/p>\n

In a market where resale value is often calculated before purchase, the policy shifted the conversation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith a residual value guarantee of up to 90% of the vehicle\u2019s list price, VinFast aims to make EV ownership more accessible and reassuring for Filipino consumers,\u201d Zara said at the program\u2019s launch.<\/p>\n

Philippine media viewed the move as unusually assertive, with several outlets noting that it addresses long standing pain points such as low resale confidence and the friction involved in selling a used EV. Few brands operating locally have offered anything comparable, particularly within the electric segment.<\/p>\n

Turning the Ecosystem Into Everyday Visibility<\/strong><\/p>\n

VinFast\u2019s ecosystem became most visible to the public with the launch of its strategic partner, Green GSM, in June. Operating across Metro Manila, the country\u2019s first all-electric taxi fleet, which exclusively uses vehicles designed by VinFast for commercial operation, introduced EVs to commuters through daily use.<\/p>\n

Each ride demonstrated practical advantages, quiet cabins, smooth acceleration, predictable fares, and zero tailpipe emissions. For many passengers, it was their first EV experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Philippines marks a strategic chapter in our Go Green Global journey,\u201d said Nguy\u1ec5n V\u0103n Thanh, Global CEO of GSM, in a press release. \u201cOur true goal is to ignite a real transformation, shifting from traditional mobility to an electric future that is cleaner, smarter, and more socially responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charging infrastructure expanded alongside fleet deployment. VinFast has supported customers with a free charging program at its dedicated charging station network, valid until May 1, 2027, providing zero fuel cost benefits to customers. The network is operated by its strategic partner, the Global Charging Station Development Company V-GREEN, which was founded by the same founder as VinFast and Green GSM, Vietnamese billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong.<\/p>\n

This ecosystem approach, vehicles, charging, fleets, and financing moving together, has been central to VinFast\u2019s progress elsewhere, and is now taking visible shape in the Philippines.<\/p>\n

A Community Participant<\/strong><\/p>\n

By mid 2025, VinFast Philippines formally joined CAMPI, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, giving the brand a voice within the country\u2019s core automotive industry body.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis milestone marks a significant step forward in our commitment to shaping the future of mobility in the Philippines,\u201d said Antonio \u201cToti\u201d Zara, CEO of VinFast Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n

Alongside industry participation, VinFast has also leaned into community engagement through the nationwide voting competition \u201cPilipinas \u2013 Your Vote, Your Design for the Future Filipino Drive,\u201d which invited the public to help shape future VinFast vehicle designs. Voting ran for two weeks from October 24 to November 7, attracting more than 20,000 votes, thousands of direct participants, and over 100 unique design submissions from both large and small islands across the Philippines, reinforcing VinFast\u2019s effort to build familiarity and participation in a market where trust is earned gradually.<\/p>\n

And following the Cebu earthquake in October, VinFast and Green GSM provided direct financial assistance and on ground support. The response reinforced the brand\u2019s positioning as a long term participant in the market, rather than a short term entrant.<\/p>\n

Later in the year, VinFast Philippines received the Legacy Award for Excellence in Strategic Mobility Innovation, recognizing its work across products, infrastructure, and community engagement. The recognition reflected the brand\u2019s growing footprint beyond vehicles alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cVinFast Philippines has made a significant mark on the journey toward sustainable mobility in our country. More than just an EV company, VinFast is building a people centered smart transportation ecosystem with strong commitments to the environment, education, and community development,\u201d said the Chairman of the organizing committee, Director Wilfredo Jordan Lemque Jr.<\/p>\n

Momentum Going Into 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

VinFast closed 2025 with vehicles on the road, service access expanding nationwide, charging infrastructure scaling, and ownership risk materially reduced.<\/p>\n

Media coverage over the past year reflects a shift. Early skepticism has given way to more specific assessments of execution, product improvement, and ecosystem depth. CleanTechnica described VinFast\u2019s facilities as having evolved from symbols of ambition into \u201cproof of capability.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the Philippine EV market moves closer to its next adoption phase, VinFast enters 2026 with momentum shaped by execution, with the key pieces already in place.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re rewriting the rules in aftersales, in service accessibility, and in value guarantees,\u201d Zara said during the October media event. \u201cOur task is to make EV ownership an easier decision for Filipino consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dealer expansion happened alongside aftersales planning. Charging infrastructure rolled out in parallel with financing programs and ownership guarantees. Rather than waiting for demand to mature on its own, VinFast worked to remove the obstacles that typically slow first-time EV buyers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":72863,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[637],"tags":[628,7579],"class_list":["post-72862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-motoring-2","tag-motoring","tag-vinfast"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72862"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72862\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72864,"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72862\/revisions\/72864"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.upgrademag.com\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}