On Thursday, Vietnamese automaker VinFast announced that it is expanding its manufacturing facility in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, to broaden its product portfolio from electric cars to electric scooters and electric buses. Although the company didn’t share which all electric scooters will be launched in India, it has a wide range across three segments: popular, intermediate, and high-class.
There are nine models in the ‘popular’ segment, six in the ‘intermediate’ segment, and four in the ‘high-class’ segment. Here is the first ride impression of one model picked from each segment.
Evo Grand (Popular)
One of the most popular scooters in Vietnam, it has a 2.25-kWh battery, 70 km/h top speed, and a claimed range of 262 km (134 km on one battery, and an extra 128 km if you buy an extra battery than can be easily installed). Power delivery is linear, and doesn’t have the jerky feel associated with some electric scooters, making it comfortable in stop-and-go traffic. Suspension easily handles minor bumps and potholes, and the chassis feels solid. If launched, it will likely be priced close to Rs 1 lakh or more (depending on a single battery or twin), and will compete with scooters such as Ola S1 Air, TVS iQube, some Vida models, and even the entry-level variants of the Ather Rizta.
Klara Neo (Intermediate)
It has a 2-kWh battery, 60 km/h top speed, and a claimed range of 112 km (single battery). It feels more agile than the Evo Grand, and is a scooter perfect for navigating the narrowest of Indian streets. It also feels quick – and a twist to the throttle produces a nice electric burst. But its limited range and top speed mean it’s a scooter primarily for short city commutes – even a Gurgaon to Noida and back journey would be challenging in Indian traffic and heat conditions.
Theon S (High-Class)
The flagship VinFast scooter, the Theon S has a 3.5-kWh battery, 99 km/h top speed, and up to 150 km claimed range. In terms of performance, it seems similar to the performance scooter Ather 450, but doesn’t seem to match up to India’s flagship, the 450 Apex. The Theon S, however, has a solid road presence, high and upright seating position, and has a planted ride thanks to its large, 16-inch wheels. It is stable on corners, and can quickly accelerate out of a corner without losing traction. It also has dual-channel ABS, and braking seems similar to a motorcycle than a scooter. In launched, it will compete in the Rs 1.5 lakh and above segment.
Comparing with India’s best
India produces some of the world’s best electric scooters and motorcycles, and after having ridden most of these, the VinFast scooters didn’t wow me – in their existing form, these scooters aren’t better than Indian scooters in terms of design, power, or practicality. For VinFast to succeed here, it must benchmark its scooters to the best in India – specifically the Rizta and the 450 Apex.
