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☆ Vinfast rallies on after becoming world's third-most valuable automaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of VinFast is pictured at the 2022 Paris Auto Show in Paris, France October 17, 2022. The company made a blowout debut on Wall Street this month and has quickly grown in valuation to become the third-most valuable automaker - only behind Tesla (TSLA.O) and Toyota (7203.T). The stock was on track to add nearly $50 billion to its market capitalization, based on the premarket share price of $90.55. Vinfast expects to sell as many as 50,000 electric vehicles this year, compared with Tesla's projection to deliver 1.8 million cars. To drive sales, Vinfast is breaking away from the direct-to-consumer approach used by Tesla and turning to dealers.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Pham Nhat Vuong, Tesla, Vinfast, Akash Sriram, Devika Organizations: REUTERS, Toyota, Ford Motor, General Motors, Reuters, P Global Mobility, U.S, Tesla, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, U.S, United States, North Carolina, Bengaluru

☆ VinFast shares more than double to highest since market debut
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 22 (Reuters) - VinFast's shares more than doubled on Tuesday to the highest since Vietnamese electric vehicle maker's blowout Wall Street debut after Reuters reported that South Korea's Star Group Industrial plans to open factory in Vietnam. In the latest volatile session since its backdoor listing last week, VinFast's stock was last up 127% at $40.24, giving it a market capitalization of $95 billion. The stock traded as high as $46.98 earlier in the session. The stock was the second highest on trading website Stocktwits "Trending" list on Tuesday, suggesting it has attracted the interest of individual investors. About $428 million worth of VinFast's shares had been traded as of mid-day, compared to Tesla's (TSLA.O) turnover of over $17 billion.

Persons: Mike Blake, Black, Pham Nhat Vuong, Noel Randewich, David Evans Organizations: Los Angeles Auto, REUTERS, Reuters, Korea's Star, Hyundai, SGI, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Vietnam

☆ Vietnam's EV firm skids for third straight US stock session after debut boom
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Medha Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

VinFast shares on Friday fell 23% to close at $15.40, slipping below its opening price of $22 on Tuesday, when it had surged up to $38.78. With about 99% of the firm controlled by founder Pham Nhat Vuong, the small amount of publicly available shares makes the stock prone to volatility. Just $45 million worth of its shares had been traded by late morning, compared with $29 billion worth of shares in Tesla (TSLA.O), according to Refinitiv data. "Founder Pham Nhat Vuong brought a portion of VinFast to the public markets because he may seek to further monetize his stake over time. That may be a material overhang for VinFast shares for some time to come," Benowitz said.

Persons: Mike Blake, VinFast, Pham Nhat Vuong, Jason Benowitz, Benowitz, Nikola, Medha Singh, Noel Randewich, Arun Koyyur, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Los Angeles Auto, REUTERS, Nasdaq, U.S, Reuters, Roosevelt Investment Group, Faraday, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Tesla, Vietnam, VinFast, Bengaluru, Oakland, California

☆ Vietnam's EV firm skids for third session after debut boom
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Medha Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The loss-making company was last valued at $32.4 billion, compared to $85 billion in its Wall Street debut on Tuesday. With about 99% of the firm controlled by founder Pham Nhat Vuong, the small amount of publicly available shares makes the stock prone to volatility. Just $28 million worth of its shares had been traded by late morning, compared to $13 billion worth of shares in Tesla (TSLA.O), according to Refinitiv data. That may be a material overhang for VinFast shares for some time to come," Benowitz said. Shares of Vietnam's largest conglomerate and VinFast parent Vingroup (VIC.HM) closed down 7% in Ho Chi Minh trading.

Persons: Mike Blake, Pham Nhat Vuong, Jason Benowitz, Benowitz, Nikola, Medha Singh, Noel Randewich, Arun Koyyur Organizations: Los Angeles Auto, REUTERS, Nasdaq, U.S, Reuters, Roosevelt Investment Group, Faraday, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Tesla, Vietnam, VinFast, Ho Chi, Bengaluru

☆ VinFast loses almost half its value as shares hit the skids after spectacular $85 billion market debut
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Joseph Wilkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Shares in VinFast soared on its Spac-led debut in New York Tuesday, leaving it worth $85 billion. The Vietnamese EV carmaker has sunk since then, losing almost half its value. After the first day of trading in New York, shares in the Vietnamese electric carmaker closed at $37, leaving it worth about $85 billion – far more than Ford, General Motors, or Chrysler Stellantis. However, VinFast But has dropped sharply over the past two days, losing more than half its 255% gains on its Nasdaq Global Select Market debut. VinFast delivered just 11,300 vehicles in the first half of this year, per a company presentation.

Persons: Pham Nhat Vuong, Le, Thuy, VinFast Organizations: carmaker, Service, Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Nasdaq, Bloomberg Locations: New York, Wall, Silicon, VinFast

It's just too early to tell," said George Glassman, president of Glassman Automotive Group, which sells five automotive brands outside Detroit. Since then, VinFast shares have retreated, and were down 17.2% at $24.92 at midday on Thursday. The new hybrid sales plan is just another challenge and the luxury carmaker is already talking to dealers. U.S. dealers said there are too many unanswered questions, including how VinFast will distribute parts needed to make repairs. Several dealers said VinFast may need to offer sweetened profit margins to dealers to account for the added risk.

Persons: It's, George Glassman, VinFast, Le, Thuy, Scott Fink, I'm, Tesla, Andrew DiFeo, Augustine, Warren Browne, Rhett Ricart, Dealers, it's, Ricart, Beau Boeckmann, Boeckmann, Ben Klayman, Phuong Nguyen, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Nasdaq, U.S, Reuters, Glassman Automotive, Ford, General Motors, U.S ., Fink Automotive Group, VW, Subaru, GM, Hyundai, Ricart Automotive, Toyota, Honda, Galpin Motors, Thomson Locations: U.S, North America, Detroit, VinFast, Tampa , Florida, St, Jacksonville , Florida, Columbus , Ohio, Los Angeles, VinFast's, Vietnam, Hanoi

☆ Stocks making the biggest premarket moves: Walmart, Adobe, Cisco, Hawaiian Electric and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Check out the companies making the biggest moves in premarket trading:Walmart — Shares added as much as 1% after the big-box retailer raised its full-year forecast and reported an earnings and revenue beat. Adobe — The software company added about 2% after Bank of America upgraded shares to buy from neutral. Hawaiian Electric — The utility company that oversees Maui Electric sank nearly 18% in premarket trading, continuing its slide over concerns of its potential liability in Maui's wildfires. On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported Hawaiian Electric is in talks with firms that specialize in restructuring. VinFast Auto — Shares of the electric vehicle start-up fell nearly 5% in premarket trading as VinFast's stock searches for its level after debuting earlier this week.

Persons: Adobe, Cuban's, Wolfspeed, —, Alex Harring, Jesse Pound, Michael Bloom Organizations: Walmart, Refinitv . Revenue, Cisco Systems, postmarket, Refinitiv, Revenue, Adobe, Bank of America, Maui Electric, Wall Street Journal, CVS, California, Drug Company, Amazon Pharmacy, BAE Systems Locations: Williston , Vermont, California

☆ After stellar debut, Vietnamese EV maker VinFast drops for second straight session
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Medha Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of VinFast is pictured at the 2022 Paris Auto Show in Paris, France October 17, 2022. VinFast had hit an eye-popping valuation of $85 billion on its first day of trading on Tuesday. Shares of other EV firms including Lucid (LCID.O) and Fisker (FSR.N) that listed through blank-check deals have also fallen since their debut. Meanwhile, its lofty valuation could be at risk as it looks to raise more capital over the next 18 months. Reporting by Medha Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Sriraj KalluvilaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Ford, Pham Nhat Vuong, Rick Meckler, VinFast, Meckler, Medha Singh, Arun Koyyur Organizations: REUTERS, General Motors, Nasdaq, Cherry Lane Investments, Spade, Asia Pacific's, VinFast's, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, New Jersey, Asia, Bengaluru

☆ Vietnam’s Tesla charges itself up for a big fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

VinFast (VFS.O) shares leapt 270% on Tuesday following the group’s $27 billion merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). It catapults the enterprise’s value to $90 billion, a grand outcome only possible because Vuong and related entities still own 99% of the Tesla (TSLA.O) wannabe. The pop values the unprofitable Vietnamese company at 142 times its sales in 2022, some 16 times Tesla’s multiple. VinFast has pushed back plans to operate its $4 billion plant in North Carolina by a year to 2025. Ultimately, VinFast is heavily reliant on Vuong who is betting big on electric vehicles.

Persons: Mike Blake, Pham Nhat Vuong, Rivian, VinFast, topline, David Mansfield, Reuters Breakingviews, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Los Angeles Auto, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Tesla, Elon Musk’s, P Global Mobility, Nasdaq, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, North Carolina, Vingroup

Shares of dedicated EV maker VinFast, which merged with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Black Spade, surged on their Nasdaq debut on Tuesday. Other EV SPAC deals, including Lucid (LCID.O), which Black Spade used as the basis of its initial $23 billion valuation of VinFast, have seen their shares tumble after listing. Lucid is valued now at under $15 billion, nearly 40% less than its $24 billion SPAC valuation in 2021. Through the first seven months, it has sold over 16,000, including its sales in Vietnam. The Tesla Model Y is almost $7,000 cheaper than VinFast's VF8 after including federal subsidies.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Black Spade, Pham Nhat Vuong, David Mansfield, Le, Thuy, VinFast, Vuong, Mansfield, AlixPartners, Tesla, Kevin Krolicki Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Nasdaq, Ford, General Motors, Tesla, VinFast, VinFast's, EV, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Rights HANOI, U.S . West Coast, Vietnam, United States, Haiphong, North Carolina, China

☆ Vietnamese EV maker VinFast is now worth more than Ford and GM after Nasdaq debut
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

On Tuesday, the Vietnamese electric vehicle maker listed on Nasdaq following the completion of its merger with the U.S.-listed special purpose acquisition company Black Spade Acquisition. Following the market debut, VinFast is now currently worth $85 billion, according to CNBC calculations. The SPAC merger previously valued VinFast at approximately $23 billion, according to a June filing with U.S. securities regulator. Meanwhile, BMW and Volkswagen are both worth around $69 billion, according to Refinitiv data, with Ford at $48 billion and GM at $46 billion. VinFast is the automaking unit of Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup and was founded in 2017.

Persons: Black Spade, VinFast, Tesla, BYD Organizations: Ford, GM, BMW, Volkswagen, Nasdaq, U.S, Spade, CNBC

A few hours before its Nasdaq debut, VinFast more than doubled its value in premarket trading involving less than 4% of its shares. Nikola now commands a market value of $1.4 billion, versus $13.9 billion before listing while Lucid has a current market value of $15.5 billion, versus $24 billion during its 2021 SPAC deal. It is still unclear how many of the company shares will trade on Tuesday and at what price. VinFast's founder, Vietnam's richest man Pham Nhat Vuong, pledged $2.5 billion in April to bolster the EV maker, including $1 billion from his personal fortune. He is the beneficial owner of 99% of the ordinary shares of the EV maker after the merger.

Persons: Mike Blake, Black Spade, Nikola Corp, Nikola, Lucid, Rivian, Pham Nhat Vuong, VinFast, Phuong Nguyen, Yantoultra, Jaiveer Singh, Francesco Guarascio Organizations: Los Angeles Auto, REUTERS, Nasdaq, Nikola, Tesla Inc, Rivian Automotive Inc, VinFast, P Global Mobility, Investors, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, HANOI, Dealogic, North Carolina, Vietnam, United States

☆ Vietnamese EV maker VinFast gets go ahead for Nasdaq SPAC listing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Phuong Nguyen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Shareholders of Hong Kong-based Black Spade Acquisition (BSAQ.A), a blank-check company, voted on Thursday to approve the merger with VinFast. VinFast, in a joint statement with Black Spade, said it would list on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol VFS "on or around August 15". It leaves VinFast's existing shareholders, including parent company Vingroup and Vuong, Vietnam's richest man, with 99% of shares in the company. "The voting results today are a vote of confidence in VinFast from Black Spade shareholders," VinFast's global head Thuy Le said in the statement. Black Spade was founded by the private investment arm of Lawrence Ho, son of the late gambling mogul Stanley Ho.

Persons: Mike Blake, VinFast, Black Spade, Pham Nhat Vuong, Thuy Le, Nikola Corp, EVs, VinFast's, Vuong, Lawrence Ho, Stanley Ho, Phuong Nguyen, Kirsten Donovan, Susan Fenton Organizations: Los Angeles Auto, REUTERS, U.S, Nasdaq, of Hong, VinFast, Black, Black Spade, Faraday, Nikola, Vingroup, Tesla, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, HANOI, of Hong Kong, VinFast, North Carolina, Black, United States, Haiphong, Vietnam

☆ Vietnam's EV maker VinFast set to break ground on delayed U.S. factory
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

VinFast is set to break ground on its delayed U.S. factory on Friday. Vietnam's VinFast will begin construction on its electric vehicle factory in North Carolina on Friday morning local time, the Vietnamese automaker confirmed with CNBC. VinFast vehicles do not currently qualify because they are not built in the country, but are built in Vietnam. The company is also pricing its VF 9 model at a considerable discount to the comparable Tesla Model X. A Tesla Model X costs about $100,000.

Persons: VinFast, Le, CNBC's, Vietnam's VinFast, — CNBC's Penny Chen Organizations: EV, Thuy, CNBC, U.S, Tesla, headcount, Spade Locations: U.S, North Carolina, Vietnam

☆ Vietnam EV maker VinFast plans US listing in August after regulator nod
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Phuong Nguyen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The EV maker had filed for an initial public offering in the U.S. to list on the Nasdaq in December last year, but in May it announced plans to list through a merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Black Spade Acquisition Co (BSAQ.A). VinFast and Black Spade aim to complete the merger by August, subject to shareholder approvals and other customary closing conditions, they said in a joint statement on Friday. "The declaration of the SEC effectiveness is a significant step towards the successful completion of the business combination between Black Spade and VinFast," Dennis Tam, Chairman and Co-CEO of Black Spade Acquisition Co said. Black Spade is set to hold an extraordinary shareholder meeting to approve the proposed business combination with VinFast on August 10, the joint statement said. The new merged entity was estimated by VinFast and Black Spade to have a potential equity value of $23 billion, according to their statement.

Persons: Black Spade, Dennis Tam, VinFast's, Nikola Corp, VinFast, Phuong Nguyen, Louise Heavens, Jane Merriman Organizations: Securities and Exchange Commission, Nasdaq, Spade, SEC, Faraday, Nikola, VinFast, Thomson Locations: HANOI, United States, U.S, North Carolina

☆ Vietnam EV maker VinFast to start construction of US factory next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Phuong Nguyen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HANOI, July 19 (Reuters) - Vietnamese automaker VinFast said on Wednesday it would start construction of a $4 billion electric vehicle factory in North Carolina next week as part of its push to expand in the United States market. The unit of Vietnam's largest conglomerate Vingroup (VIC.HM), which began operations in 2019, announced plans for the U.S. factory last year. It is targeting the start of production in 2025, a year later than its initial plan. "When it begins operations, the factory will be VinFast's primary supplier of electric vehicles to the North American market," said Thuy Le, head of VinFast Auto. The project's first phase includes a $2 billion investment in a factory capable of producing 150,000 vehicles a year.

Persons: VinFast, Thuy Le, Tesla, China's, Vinfast, Phuong Nguyen, Jamie Freed Organizations: U.S, North, VinFast Auto, Spade, Thomson Locations: HANOI, North Carolina, United States, North American, California

☆ Vietnam EV maker Vinfast expects to break even by end-2024 - founder
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HANOI, May 17 (Reuters) - Vietnam's electric automaker VinFast expects to break even by the end of 2024, its founder said on Wednesday. Vinfast will also launch an EV-pickup truck and a city or "mini car" as future models, Pham Nhat Vuong, chairman of conglomerate Vingroup (VIC.HM) and founder of its auto unit VinFast, told investors at the company's annual general meeting. VinFast said earlier this month that it would list in the United States via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Black Spade Acquisition Co (BSAQ.N). VinFast, which is looking to break into the U.S. and European markets for electric cars, had earlier received funding pleges of $2.5 billion from Vingroup, Vietnam's largest conglomerate, and its founder, Vuong, Vietnam's first billionaire. Reporting by Phuong Nguyen in Hanoi and Kevin Krolicki in Singapore; Editing by Martin PettyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Vietnam EV maker VinFast sees sales boom, path to breakeven
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Phuong Nguyen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Vuong projected sales of between 40,000 and 50,000 cars this year, up from EV sales of about 7,400 in 2022 when the company's only market was Vietnam. In addition, Vuong said VinFast planned to add two other models to its lineup: an electric pickup truck and a battery-powered city or "mini car." VinFast, which began operations in 2019, has a plant in Vietnam and plans for a second plant to open in North Carolina in 2025. An electric pickup truck would face competition from Rivian Automotive Inc (RIVN.O), Ford Motor Co's (F.N) F-150 Lightning and other models. The entry-level, small EV would face competition from Chinese-made electric vehicles, including from BYD.

☆ Vietnam EV maker VinFast to list in U.S. via a SPAC
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Vietnamese electric automaker VinFast said on Friday it will list in the United States via a merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Black Spade Acquisition Co . The company has said it has almost 55,000 orders globally and is able to churn out 300,000 EVs per year. Black Spade Acquisition is a Hong Kong-based SPAC which listed on the NYSE in July 2021 with a plan to merge, within two years, with a company ideally in the entertainment business, according to its website. It was founded by Black Spade Capital Limited, the private investment arm of Lawrence Ho, the head of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd, which operates casinos in Macau and the Philippines, according to the company's website and Refinitiv. "The partnership with Black Spade and listing of VinFast in the U.S. represents the perfect capital raising avenue for our future global ambitions," Thuy Le, VinFast's global chief executive, said.

☆ Vietnamese EV maker VinFast remains optimistic despite challenging entry to U.S. auto market
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Yu Ruidong | China News Service | Getty Imageswatch nowShe added that VinFast is entering the market "with clear approaches" such as offering premium quality and accessibility for the mass market without cutting corners in cybersecurity and functional safety. Software problems delayed deliveries of VinFast's first batch of cars to U.S. buyers from December 2022 until March 2023. VinFast cars are also currently ineligible for the $7,500 tax credit in the U.S. because they are not made in the U.S., but are made in Vietnam — which will impact their U.S. sales. While the company filed for an initial public offering in December, it has not yet launched its roadshow. "For us, it's not about raising monies but it's a lot about making the company more international and other corporate purposes and the market has been challenging as you know," said Le.

☆ VinFast delivers first 45 cars in US market
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] VinFast electric vehicles are parked before delivery to their first customers at a store in Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 1, 2023. REUTERS/Lisa BaertleinMarch 2 (Reuters) - Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast delivered its first 45 cars to customers in California on Wednesday, its first sales outside Vietnam. Last week, the company slashed the lease price on the VF8 electric crossover by 50%. It also dropped an option for consumers to rent the electric car's battery, a plan it had advertised as a way to bring down the cost of ownership. Andrew and Nikki Le, who ordered 11 VinFast cars, took delivery of the first of those at the store.

☆ Vietnam EV maker VinFast plans promotions in response to Tesla price cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HANOI, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Vietnam's electric-vehicle (EV) maker VinFast said on Thursday it will launch promotions to protect the market competitiveness of its models, a week after Tesla (TSLA.O) announced aggressive discounting to spur demand. Tesla is offering its basic Model Y at $52,990 in the U.S. market, a reduction from $65,990. "As a new brand entering the market, when other brands reduce their prices we have to come up with promotions to ensure VinFast's competitiveness," a VinFast spokesperson said in a statement. The Vietnamese EV maker started to ship its first batch of 999 EVs to the United States in late November and aims to deliver them to customers this month, the spokesperson said. VinFast has said it has secured almost 65,000 orders globally and expects to sell 750,000 EVs annually by 2026.

☆ EV maker Vinfast files for U.S. IPO
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 6 (Reuters) - Vietnam-based electric-vehicle maker VinFast said on Tuesday it has filed for an initial public offering in the United States and plans to list its ordinary shares on the Nasdaq under ticker symbol "VFS". While no time frame was specified on Tuesday for the offering, the IPO was initially slated for the fourth quarter of this year, the company had previously said. The company's parent, Vingroup conglomerate, said in May that the IPO maybe delayed to 2023 due to market uncertainty. In April, VinFast's Singapore-based holding company filed for a confidential IPO with U.S. securities regulators, as it readied a $4-billion investment to build a factory in the United States. Reporting by Eva Mathews in Bengaluru and Phuong Nguyen in Hanoi; Editing by Shounak DasguptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Vietnam's VinFast ships first electric vehicles to U.S. customers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Phuong Nguyen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The first cars are expected to be handed over to customers by the end of December, the company said. Thuy said VinFast expected to be able to ship a second batch of cars to the United States, its first export market, around January. VinFast is in the process of building an electric vehicle plant in North Carolina that is awaiting final regulatory approval from local officials. VinFast said last week that Autonomy had ordered 2,500 electric vehicles, its largest corporate order to date. VinFast officials said the number 999 for the vehicles shipped in the first batch had been chosen because it is considered a lucky number in Vietnam.

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