Sub-$20,000 VinFast VF 3 Could Become America’s Cheapest Car

Vietnamese automaker VinFast may have had a slow start in America, but that isn’t stopping it from considering the bargain-priced VF 3 for a market starved of affordable EVs. The boxy, two-door VF 3 EV measures just 122.4 inches in length, making it significantly smaller than even the two-door Mini Cooper hatchback.

Representatives from the company told Automotive News the VF 3 could have a sub-$20,000 price if it’s sold here, and if leased under existing rules, federal tax credits would drop that cost to $12,500 – no other EV in America is nearly that cheap. The VF 3 would also be far cheaper than the VF 8 crossover, which has no price advantage over its superior rivals.

However, VinFast’s lack of brand recognition, the initial quality of its larger EVs, and America’s disdain for smaller cars could see the VF 3 face an uphill battle.