Stop Buying Chetak Until Vinfast EVs Hit
VinFast, the Vietnamese EV giant, plans India-specific electric scooters from its Tamil Nadu plant in H2 2026, targeting Bajaj Chetak and TVS iQube turf. Will they disrupt or flop in our cutthroat market?
The Disappointment
VinFast V9 electric scooter on red platform at event with backdrop
I scoured Chennai showrooms last month hunting VinFast buzz, dreaming of affordable EVs to replace my aging petrol commuter for Jalna runs. Spoiler: nothing yet—their Thoothukudi plant ramps cars like VF6/VF7 to 1.5 lakh units yearly, but scooters wait till H2 2026, possibly festive Diwali splash. No prototypes, no specs, just CEO Pham Sanh Chau’s tease of “India-tuned” models factoring potholes, monsoons, price wars, and 50km daily hauls.
Current rivals own the pitch: Bajaj Chetak starts ₹1.12 lakh ex-showroom with 153km range (3.5kWh battery), 63kmph top speed, but real-world 100km and slow 4hr charges frustrate highway hops. TVS iQube? ₹1.18-1.39 lakh, up to 212km (5kWh), 82kmph, but software glitches and queueing waitlists plague Maharashtra buyers. Ather 450X apes at ₹1.45 lakh with swappable batteries, yet ₹1.5/km running costs bite wallets amid 30kWh home charger installs.
VinFast’s global scooters like V9 or Klara S flash style—red/black designs, 100+km ranges—but India versions promise localization: local batteries, motors, BIW steel to slash costs via PLI/PM E-DRIVE subsidies. Still, 1 million unit capacity ambition sounds nuts when Ola/Ather struggle at 1 lakh sales yearly, and service nets? VinFast’s car side barely covers Tamil Nadu. I test-rode a Chetak proxy yesterday in Aurangabad—decent torque, but regen braking feels gimmicky, range anxiety kills 100km Jalna-Parli trips. VinFast better deliver sub-₹1 lakh pricing or bust.
The Surprising Truth
VinFast Klara S navy blue electric scooter with small white model inset
Zoom to Vietnam expos via proxy vids, and VinFast’s EV scooters pack punch: Klara S eyes 130km range, 70kmph, IP67 batteries, app smarts rivaling Ather’s dashboard wizardry. India tweaks? Expect 3-5kWh packs tuned for 80-120km IDC, 60kmph tops suiting urban chaos, plus swappable cells via local partners to dodge 6hr home plugs. Thoothukudi’s $500M expansion adds 2W lines next to car/bus assembly, hitting 10 lakh capacity long-term—enough to flood Flipkart sales if priced right.
Rivals falter where VinFast shines: Bajaj Chetak’s metal body rusts in monsoons, iQube’s plastic scratches easy; VinFast hints steel BIW for durability, plus vendor ties for cheap lithium from Tamil Nadu hubs. I simulated a ride via global specs—quick torque for overtakes, OTA updates fixing niggles pre-launch. Backed by Vingroup billions, unlike bootstrapped Ather, VinFast eyes ecosystem: chargers at BigBasket stops, Limo Green MPV tie-ins for fleets. In my hypothetical Maharashtra test, it’d edge Chetak’s 3.5kWh on highways, matching iQube software without TVS queues. Subtle power: global flops taught them—India gets value EVs, not premium toys.
India-Specific Impact
H2 2026 drop eyes ₹90k-1.2 lakh ex-showroom sweet spot, undercutting Chetak/iQube via 50%+ localization, PLI cash. On-road Jalna: ₹1.05-1.4 lakh (RTO ₹5k, insurance ₹4k), vs Mumbai’s ₹1.2-1.5 lakh premiums or Delhi’s ₹1.1 lakh subsidies. Tamil Nadu plant proximity slashes logistics—Chennai ₹95k on-road, Pune ₹1.15 lakh, Kolkata ₹1.25 lakh factoring state EV perks.
Rivals stack up:
VinFast disrupts budgets—cheaper running (₹0.5/km vs ₹1+), potential FAME rebates. Jalna chargers sparse now (5 stations), but VinFast’s 1M push eyes highways. Service? Expanding via 100+ touchpoints by 2027, beating Ola woes. Maharashtra sales? 20k units Year 1 if priced ₹1 lakh, stealing 10% from TVS/Bajaj amid 5L annual EV scooter boom.
Rushi’s Verdict
VinFast’s India EV scooters could rewrite commutes—I’d swap my petrol for one at ₹1 lakh, range holding Jalna hustles sans anxiety. Tailored beats global copies; watch H2 2026 for specs/pricing steals. Hold Chetak/iQube buys—Vietnamese value might dominate.
FAQ
When Vinfast electric scooters launching in India?
H2 2026, from Thoothukudi plant.
Expected price?
₹90k-1.2 lakh ex-showroom, rivals Chetak/iQube.
Vinfast vs Bajaj Chetak/TVS iQube?
Localized, cheaper; better ecosystem potential.
Production capacity?
1 million units annually targeted.
Comment your EV pick!
By Rushi, Jalna-based auto journalist
