Vietnamese automaker VinFast has announced that its new VF 8 electric SUV has been added to the list of eligible vehicles under the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) created by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), allowing both new and existing VinFast customers to qualify for up to $7,500 in tax rebates in California, which can extend to other participating states.
VinFast is a relatively young electric vehicle (EV) automaker that has caught the attention of many due to the speed at which it has developed, announced, and begun delivering its first all-electric models. Despite several hurdles slowing down its expansion plans in the US and Europe, VinFast continues to move forward with its grandiose plans, including a potential initial public offering (IPO).
See also: VinFast Ships Second Batch of Longer-Range EVs to North America
In late 2022, VinFast shipped its first batch of VF 8 SUVs from Vietnam to the US, but customer deliveries were delayed as the vehicles required a software update. As of late March, VinFast was working on bringing a second shipment of 1,879 VF 8 SUVs stateside, and according to the automaker, that second batch left the MPC Port of Hai Phong, Vietnam, on April 16 and is expected to arrive at Benicia Port, California, in May.
VinFast states that almost 1,100 of the nearly 1,900 EVs in the second batch will be eligible for tax rebates in California. By achieving eligibility in the CVRP, customers in California who purchase or lease a new VinFast VF 8 SUV can apply for a tax rebate ranging between $2,000 and $7,500. Moreover, in the Golden State, VinFast VF 8 and VF 9 drivers now also qualify for California’s Clean Air Vehicle Decal Program, which grants free high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane access on congested highways.
According to VinFast, since the VF 8 has been approved for CARB eligibility, the SUV should qualify for several other state incentive programs overseen by the Center for Sustainable Energy, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Vermont.
See also: VinFast Delivers First Batch of VF 9 All-Electric SUVs to Customers in Vietnam
VinFast North America CEO Van Anh Nguyen believes that state incentives, along with VinFast’s product quality and competitive sales policies, will help enhance the company’s competitiveness in the key North American market, while also motivating customers to quickly transition to electric vehicles. State incentives like the CVRP help VinFast enhance its competitiveness in the key North American market, further accelerating the movement to smart and green mobility.
VinFast states that the CVRP applies to all VF 8 models sold or leased in the state of California, and purchases apply retroactively from March 2023, so nearly all VF 8 customers can still apply. VinFast states that those who might qualify can learn more and apply for the tax rebate on the official CVRP site, making it an attractive option for customers looking to purchase an EV in California.
