VinFast has officially filed a design patent in India for what appears to be a new three-row electric SUV. While the Vietnamese EV manufacturer had earlier committed to building a factory in Tamil Nadu, this patent marks the first concrete sign of product localisation.
The images submitted to the Indian patent office match the VinFast VF 7 Plus, a model that is already on sale in global markets. However, in this form, the vehicle seems slightly longer, likely to accommodate a third row of seats. This is valued in markets like India, where a larger size is seen as more premium.
Three-Row Electric SUV
India’s electric SUV market has grown by over 100% year-on-year, but most products still cater to two-row urban buyers.
That said, the company’s Indian operations are still in the early stages. Production has only just begun in Tamil Nadu. It remains to be seen whether VinFast will bring in this three-row SUV as a completely built unit initially or wait for local assembly to begin. Either way, pricing will be critical.
Design & Features
The patent sketches show a coupe-like roofline, large wheels, and full-width LED elements. In international markets, the VF 7 Plus is offered with a 201 BHP front-wheel-drive layout or a dual-motor all-wheel-drive variant producing 348 BHP. Range figures hover around 450 KM.
No interior images are included in the filing, but based on the global model, buyers can expect a minimalist dashboard with a large central touchscreen and an emphasis on connected tech. If the Indian version is indeed stretched to include a third row, second-row space and seat ergonomics must be tweaked.
Conclusion
The brand remains largely unknown to Indian buyers. In a market dominated by trust in legacy manufacturers, especially in the SUV space, breaking through will take more than just aggressive pricing or futuristic styling. After-sales service, battery warranty, and reliability perception will dictate how well this SUV performs commercially.
