Demand for Roomy, Eco-Friendly SUVs Opens Door for VinFast VF 9
Market forces in Canada are aligning, opening new opportunities for brands willing to meet real consumer needs.
Sustainability is no longer confined to niche buyers. PwC's 2024 Voice of the Consumer study found that Canadians will pay about 10 percent more for products that clearly demonstrate environmental benefits 1. A Deloitte survey echoes this, with 62 percent of Canadians ready to spend up to 20 percent more on goods with credible sustainability claims 2. Together, these findings show that purchasing power is reshaping markets in favor of cleaner options.
At the same time, Canadian families continue to favor multipurpose vehicles. SUVs and other large models now account for 63.5 percent of new registrations, the only segment to grow in the first quarter of 2025 3. The appeal lies in practicality: room for hockey gear, camping equipment, and multi-generational travel. Parents want vehicles that can handle school runs and weekend trips without compromise.
Bringing these two forces together—demand for sustainability and preference for larger vehicles—reveals a gap in the market. A quick Google search indicates that in the 2024-2025 model years, fewer than five full-size electric SUVs have been launched, compared with at least eight smaller electric cars 4. In other words, full-size electric SUVs remain relatively rare, leaving space for manufacturers that can balance environmental responsibility with real-world utility.
The VF 9: Bridging Practicality and Sustainability
One of the few contenders stepping into this space is the VinFast VF 9, a seven-seat, all-electric SUV designed to meet both environmental and family needs. Its zero-emission powertrain and spacious three-row layout make it a practical choice for households seeking a lower footprint without sacrificing comfort.
Designed by the Italian firm Pininfarina, the VF 9 pairs a distinctive LED 'bird wing' light strip with thoughtful interior planning. The cabin offers flexible seating for six or seven passengers, with captain's chairs in the second row featuring integrated massage and ventilation, amenities rarely seen in this segment. Premium leather upholstery and soft-close doors reinforce the idea that eco-friendly does not mean giving up comfort. Storage solutions handle both everyday errands and long trips with ease.
Inside, a 15.6-inch central display anchors a tech-forward cabin with smart connectivity, three-zone climate control, and 11 airbags. An 8-inch second-row screen keeps passengers entertained, while massage seats make long drives more comfortable for the driver. 'The VF 9 has features you can only find in luxury cars like massage seats and heated/cooled seats. The ADAS works fine, build quality is really good,' highlights owner T.T. Nguyen 5.
Currently, the VF 9 Plus starts at CAD $81,310, offering all-wheel drive, 402 horsepower, up to 468 km of range, and comprehensive coverage: a 10-year/200,000 km vehicle warranty and a 10-year unlimited-mileage battery warranty. This kind of assurance can address one of the common barriers to EV adoption: concern about long-term reliability. The VF 9 Eco model starts at CAD $77,321.
For many Canadian families, the vehicle in the driveway is becoming an expression of values as much as income. And as sustainability and practicality continue to converge, premium electric SUVs like the VF 9 may define the next stage of automotive status, where a lighter footprint and real-world utility set the new standard.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Wire
10 minutes ago
- Business Wire
TEP to Convert Coal-Fired Springerville Generating Station Units to Natural Gas
TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tucson Electric Power (TEP) plans to convert two units at the coal-fired Springerville Generating Station (SGS) to run on natural gas by 2030. The project will maintain access to affordable, around-the-clock energy while reducing carbon emissions and preserving local jobs. 'Our SGS conversion project will extend the life of a plant that has powered Tucson's growth for more than four decades,' said Susan Gray, TEP's President and CEO. 'It will help us provide reliable, affordable, and increasingly sustainable service while extending our productive partnership with communities in the White Mountains region.' Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs praised the project. 'A resilient grid that's reliable, affordable, and sustainable is core to delivering on the Arizona Promise,' Hobbs said. 'This plan will deliver cleaner air and lower costs, while strengthening communities in northeastern Arizona and building a more resilient energy future.' Cost-Effective Capacity The conversion will provide comparable capacity to the coal-fired units while costing less than building new resources such as a new combined cycle natural gas-fired facility or solar plus long-term energy storage systems that provide comparable reliability. The natural gas conversion also will provide greater cost certainty compared to the continued use of coal. TEP's 2023 Integrated Resource Plan called for the retirement of SGS Units 1 and 2 in 2027 and 2032, respectively, due to rising fuel costs, increasing delivery risks, anticipated mine closures, and environmental considerations and regulation. Although current federal policy is supportive of coal-fired generation, those long-term risks remain. Natural gas-fired generators provide advantages over coal-fired power plants on today's energy grid, as they can better accommodate and support increasing levels of intermittent wind and solar power. Coal plants are designed to operate at steady levels and cannot easily ramp up or down in response to customer needs and renewable energy output. Lower Carbon Emissions The conversion will reduce the units' carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent, supporting TEP's goal of achieving net zero direct greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 without compromising on reliability or affordability. We are pursuing that aspirational goal through a balanced energy mix that also supports greater resiliency and energy security. Natural gas generation can serve as a 'bridge' to a cleaner energy future, providing ready, reliable power while newer technologies mature. Options may include cost-effective long-duration storage, small modular nuclear reactors, and a switch to hydrogen as a carbon-free fuel source for plants previously powered by natural gas. 'Achieving our 2050 net zero goal will require an all-of-the-above approach, including investments in clean energy solutions and partnerships with customers to encourage thoughtful energy use,' Gray said. 'While we cannot predict exactly how we'll achieve net zero carbon emissions, we know that efficient, reliable natural gas generation will be a part of our path toward that goal.' Supporting Local Economies The SGS repowering project will support the continued availability of affordable, reliable power in Southern Arizona for local residents and businesses. It will also maintain jobs and tax revenues for Springerville, Eager, St. John's and other White Mountains communities that our SGS employees call home. 'This transition at Springerville is a step toward a more sustainable energy future that doesn't leave rural Arizona behind,' said U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.). 'By moving away from coal while maintaining affordable and reliable power, TEP is showing that we can protect jobs, while propelling innovative energy solutions at the same time. Arizona needs smart, balanced solutions like this that support working families, strengthen local economies, and keep us moving toward our clean energy goals.' TEP has been operating SGS since 1985 on a high desert plain about 175 miles northeast of Tucson, near the Arizona-New Mexico border and about 15 miles outside of Springerville, Ariz. It was one of several coal-fired power plants developed during the 1970s and 1980s in the Four Corners area to support growing communities in the southwest United States. 'Springerville Generating Station isn't just a power plant. It's a lifeline to the Round Valley communities,' said Springerville Mayor Shelly Reidhead. 'This commitment to repower the plant with natural gas helps ensure a brighter future for this region, saving jobs, stabilizing the tax base and attracting future energy investments.' SGS Unit 1 came online in 1985, while Unit 2 came online in 1990. TEP owns Units 1 and 2 and operates all four units at the plant, including Unit 3, a 400 MW unit owned by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, and Unit 4, a 400 MW unit owned by Salt River Project (SRP). Please visit our Media Resource Page for a video interview about TEP's plan to repower SGS and b-roll footage of the plant.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
RBC's Calvasina Says Too Early to Dismiss Tariff Hit to Earnings
(Bloomberg) -- The US reporting season is off to a strong start, but it would be premature to write off the impact of tariffs on inflation and corporate earnings, according to RBC Capital Markets strategists. The High Costs of Trump's 'Big Beautiful' New Car Loan Deduction Can This Bridge Ease the Troubled US-Canadian Relationship? Budapest's Most Historic Site Gets a Controversial Rebuild Trump Administration Sues NYC Over Sanctuary City Policy The team led by Lori Calvasina said early trends suggest US companies have been resilient to the trade war so far. However, a slate of executives have warned that the effects will become clearer in the second half of the year, they said. 'It's still too early to assume tariffs won't generate inflation pressures,' Calvasina wrote in a note that was published Sunday, after the trade agreement between the European Union and the US was announced. 'It also poses a risk to the path of stock prices if company outlooks for 2026 don't end up being as rosy as investors have been anticipating.' US stocks have rallied to record highs as investors bet earnings would continue to be robust. About 82% of S&P 500 companies have beaten second-quarter earnings estimates to date, the largest share in almost four years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence. Progress in US trade negotiations has also lifted sentiment. In the latest agreement announced Sunday, Washington and the European Union agreed on a pact that will see the bloc face duties of 15% on most of its exports. Some market forecasters including Morgan Stanley's Michael Wilson have turned more optimistic about the S&P 500 as they expect earnings to remain upbeat. On Monday, Oppenheimer & Co.'s John Stoltzfus upgraded his year-end target for the benchmark to 7,100 points — the highest among strategists tracked by Bloomberg. However, others like UBS Group AG's Bhanu Baweja have previously warned the market was too optimistic about profit margins being protected even in the face of higher levies. Burning Man Is Burning Through Cash It's Not Just Tokyo and Kyoto: Tourists Descend on Rural Japan Elon Musk's Empire Is Creaking Under the Strain of Elon Musk Confessions of a Laptop Farmer: How an American Helped North Korea's Wild Remote Worker Scheme Scottish Wind Farms Show How to Counter Nimby Opposition ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Hamilton Spectator
35 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
LifeLabs Deepens Support to Communities Impacted by Saskatchewan Wildfires with an Additional $5,000 Donation
Toronto, ON, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As wildfires continue to impact communities across Saskatchewan, LifeLabs is pleased to deepen its commitment to relief efforts, contributing an additional $5,000. This latest contribution brings the company's total support for wildfire relief efforts to $20,000 in 2025. The safety and well-being of our customers, employees, and communities remain LifeLabs' top priority. Earlier this summer, LifeLabs donated a $5,000 donation to both the Canadian Red Cross and the Central Urban Métis Federation Inc. (CUMFI), recognizing their vital roles in providing emergency assistance. Building upon this support, LifeLabs is now making an additional $5,000 contribution to the Saskatoon Community Foundation Emergency Response Fund, which is coordinating funds and collecting donations to provide relief for individuals evacuated due to the wildfires, and St. John Ambulance for Saskatchewan, which is providing First Aid, Therapy Dog comfort visits, and essential care to those displaced by the fires. Further amplifying its impact, LifeLabs' Employee Giving Program, which matches employee donations dollar-for-dollar to the registered charity of their choice, has committed to contributing up to an additional $5,000 to wildlife relief efforts. 'At LifeLabs, our hearts go out to everyone affected by these devastating wildfires,' says Charles Brown, President and CEO, LifeLabs. 'We are deeply committed to supporting the health and safety of our communities, during times of crisis. We are truly grateful to the first responders and organizations across the country who are coming together to provide care, comfort, and relief when it's needed most.' To stay informed about LifeLabs' operational status of its Patient Service Centres, please visit: Together, we can make a meaningful difference. By standing with our fellow Canadians, we are showing unwavering care, compassion, and commitment to helping those who need it most. About LifeLabs LifeLabs is Canada's leading provider of laboratory diagnostic information and digital health connectivity systems, enabling patients and healthcare practitioners to diagnose, treat, monitor and prevent disease. We are a committed innovator in supporting Canadians to live healthier lives, operating Canada's first commercial genetics lab, and the country's largest online patient portal, with more than 8 million Canadians receiving their results online. LifeLabs has been named one of Canada's Best Employers (2021, 2022 and 2023) and Best Employers for Diversity (2022, 2023 and 2024) by Forbes, named by BrandSpark as the Most Trusted Brand in medical diagnostic services voted by Canadians (2023 and 2024) and recognized for having an award-winning Mental Health Program from Benefits Canada. Learn more at .
