A manufacturer that bills itself as a 100% electric specialist unveils a pickup… with a gasoline engine. On paper, the scenario looks like a step backward. In reality, it’s a precisely targeted technical choice, tailored for Vietnam’s roads. And this choice gives birth to a 100% electric pickup that isn’t quite like the others.
Presented at the start of 2024 as a 100% electric concept, this pickup project was meant to serve as a technology showcase. Two years later, the production model arrives with an autonomy extender powered by a gasoline engine. This turnabout, and what it implies in daily use, is revealed with the new VinFast VF Wild electric pickup. A pickup touted as 100% electric, but that also relies on a fuel tank to reassure.
From the 100 % electric concept to the VinFast VF Wild with a gasoline engine
Initially, the VF Wild was only a show car unveiled at the CES in Las Vegas. It was then conceived as a 100% electric pickup designed to bolster VinFast’s zero-emission image. Between that concept and the production vehicle shown in Vietnam in 2026, the philosophy remains the same: a mid-size pickup, comparable in size to a Ford Ranger, with a bed that can be used day to day. This is the first pickup from the young Vietnamese brand.
The big difference lies in the powertrain. The layout shifts from a 100% electric arrangement to an extended-range electric solution, a type EREV. The wheels are driven solely by a 160 kW electric motor, about 218 horsepower, and 280 Nm. A gasoline block generates electricity when the battery runs low, never feeding power directly to the wheels. This setup is tailored to a charging network that remains uneven in Vietnam, while aiming for predominantly electric use.
Spec sheet, range and price of the VinFast VF Wild
At roughly 5.38 meters long and 2.07 meters wide, the VinFast VF Wild sits in the mid-size pickup class. Its wheelbase reaches 3.26 meters. The bed measures 1.57 meters long, 1.51 meters wide and 51 centimeters tall. The payload rating climbs to 750 kg, with a single front electric motor and two-wheel drive. The model rides on 18-inch steel wheels. No all-wheel-drive version is currently mentioned by the manufacturer.
The 46.4 kWh LFP battery accepts a charge at 6.6 kW on alternating current or 90 kW on DC fast charging. VinFast says charging from 10 to 70 percent takes 32 minutes on an appropriate DC charger. According to the NEDC cycle, range exceeds 250 km in pure electric mode. By combining the battery and the gasoline engine, the company cites more than 1,000 km of total range possible. Fuel economy, engine displacement and tank capacity are not detailed. On the interior, the VF Wild features a 10-inch touchscreen and a reclining rear seat. A flat floor and the V2L function round out the equipment, with the latter allowing power to external devices. As with other VinFast models, there is no traditional instrument cluster in front of the driver. In Vietnam, the price ranges from 860 to 872 million dong, or about €28,800 to €29,200 depending on color. Pre-orders run from September 25 to 30, with a discount of roughly €2,000 for early buyers. No announcement yet mentions export to Europe or the United States.
