
Auto recap, July 15: VinFast opens bookings, Kia Carens Clavis EV launched and more
The automotive industry is experiencing rapid changes, which makes it difficult to stay informed about all the latest advancements. At HT Auto, we are dedicated to delivering the most relevant and current information as it becomes available. Below is a concise overview of the key highlights from Tuesday, July 15.
VinFast VF7 and VF6 bookings open
VinFast India has commenced the acceptance of bookings for the VF7 and VF6 electric SUVs. Prospective customers may visit the official website of the brand, vinfastauto.in, and submit a token amount of ₹ 21,000 to secure their booking. This amount is entirely refundable. The launch of the VF7 and VF6 is scheduled for August.
Both models will be manufactured locally at VinFast's forthcoming factory situated in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. The VinFast VF6 is expected to be the more mainstream option, competing against the Hyundai Creta Electric, Tata Curvv EV, Mahindra BE 6, and similar vehicles. Conversely, the VinFast VF7 will serve as the more upscale choice, competing with the Mahindra XEV 9e, BYD Atto 3, and others.
Also Read : VinFast VF7 and VF6 bookings open, launch to happen in August Tesla Model Y launched
Tesla, the renowned global electric vehicle manufacturer, has finally made its entry into the Indian market after much anticipation. The company has launched its most popular Model Y SUV in the country, starting at a price of ₹ 59.89 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai). The inaugural dealership for the brand has been opened at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai, and the Tesla Model Y will be offered in both RWD and Long Range RWD variants. The premium Long-Range variant is priced at ₹ 67.89 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai).
Nevertheless, the manufacturer is not providing the fully autonomous driving feature with the vehicle initially. The full self-driving capability will incur an additional cost of ₹ 6 lakh. Furthermore, the car maker has included a disclaimer on its website stating that the currently available features necessitate active driver supervision. The vehicle is equipped with over-the-air updates as these self-driving functionalities progress.
Also Read : Tesla Model Y launched in India at ₹ 59.89 lakh. But will it drive itself? Find out… Kia Carens Clavis EV launched
Kia has introduced its inaugural mass-market electric vehicle in India, known as the new Carens Clavis EV. The pricing for the new Kia Carens Clavis EV starts at ₹ 17.99 lakh and can reach up to ₹ 24.49 lakh (ex-showroom). This latest model is built on the localized E-GMP platform and shares its foundational elements with the recently unveiled facelifted Carens Clavis. According to Kia, this new electric people mover guarantees the same level of comfort and a premium cabin experience, all while achieving zero tailpipe emissions. Bookings will commence on July 22, 2025.
Also Read : Kia Carens Clavis EV launched with 490 km range, prices start at ₹ 17.99 lakh
Get insights into Upcoming Cars In India, Electric Vehicles, Upcoming Bikes in India and cutting-edge technology transforming the automotive landscape.
First Published Date: 16 Jul 2025, 06:00 am IST
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India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Vietnam's VinFast Enters India with First EV Showroom In Gujarat, Plans 35 Outlets By Year-End
New Delhi: Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast on Sunday opened its first showroom in India at Gujarat's Surat as the company looks to tap the growing market for electric cars in the country. The showroom will showcase the company's electric SUV variants VF 6 and VF 7, which will be launched as right-hand drive variants for the first time. "The vehicles will be locally assembled at VinFast's upcoming factory at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, reinforcing the company's long-term commitment to India as a strategic market and future hub for electric vehicle production," a VinFast statement said. VinFast plans to open 35 dealerships across over 27 cities in the country by the year-end. Vehicles will be assembled at its upcoming manufacturing facility in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. Vietnamese EV giant VinFast opens First Indian Showroom in Surat,Gujrat. Aims 35 Showrooms across India By 2025 end. — Indian Infra Report (@Indianinfoguide) July 27, 2025 Located in Surat's Piplod area, the showroom will showcase the brand's upcoming premium electric SUVs – the VF 6 and VF 7 – for which pre-bookings opened on July 15. Customers can reserve their vehicle at showroom their vehicle at showrooms or online through with a fully refundable deposit of Rs 21,000, the statement said. VinFast Asia CEO Pham Sanh Chau said: "The first VinFast Showroom in Surat is a symbol of our deep commitment to India. We are excited to bring the VinFast experience closer to Indian consumers. With this dealership in Gujarat, we aim to offer not just electric vehicles, but a complete ownership journey built on quality trust and service excellence.' The Vietnamese EV maker has formed partnerships with RoadGrid, myTVS, and Global Assure to provide charging and after-sales services across India. The company has also joined hands with BatX Energies to promote battery recycling and establish a circular battery value chain, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable innovation. Earlier this month, the Elon Musk-run Tesla launched its Model Y in India, at prices starting at Rs 59.89 lakh, with its first showroom in Mumbai. Tesla will be importing the Model Y as a completely built unit (CBU) from its manufacturing facility in Shanghai in China.


Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
VinFast opens first showroom in India, plans to set up 34 more by 2025 end
VinFast Auto India , the Indian subsidiary of the Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast, has announced the inauguration of its first showroom in the country. Located in Surat, Gujarat, the showroom has been launched ahead of the inauguration of the brand's first EV plant in the country. The showroom comes as the first of the 35 dealerships VinFast is planning to set up across 27 cities in India by the end of 2025. The showroom is spread across 3,000 square feet and claims to offer immersive product experiences, seamless vehicle purchase journeys, and after-sales support. The showroom will showcase VinFast's range of premium electric SUVs, including VF6 and VF7. Interestingly, the automaker has officially opened pre-bookings for both the premium electric SUVs in India on July 15. The carmaker is accepting bookings for the VF6 and VF7 electric SUVs, with a fully refundable booking amount of ₹21,000. Also check these Cars Find more Cars UPCOMING VinFast VF6 59.6 kwh 59.6 kwh 399 km 399 km ₹ 30 - 45 Lakhs Alert Me When Launched UPCOMING VinFast VF7 75.3 kWh 75.3 kWh 450 km 450 km ₹ 60 - 65 Lakhs Alert Me When Launched BYD Atto 3 60.48 kWh 60.48 kWh 521 km 521 km ₹ 24.99 Lakhs Compare View Offers BYD eMAX 7 71.8 kWh 71.8 kWh 530 km 530 km ₹ 26.90 Lakhs Compare View Offers UPCOMING Mahindra BE 07 80 kWh 80 kWh 450 km 450 km ₹ 25 - 30 Lakhs Alert Me When Launched Mahindra BE 6 79 kWh 79 kWh 682 km 682 km ₹ 18.90 Lakhs Compare View Offers Watch: VinFast VF7 First Look Vietnamese e-SUV all set for India Launch VinFast is currently in the process of setting up its first electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu. Located at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, the upcoming plant will produce electric vehicles locally in India. As part of its India market entry, VinFast has formed strategic partnerships with companies like RoadGrid, myTVS, and Global Assure to establish a nationwide network for EV charging and after-sales services. Speaking about the brand's first showroom inauguration, Pham Sanh Chau, CEO, VinFast Asia, said that the first VinFast showroom in Surat, Gujarat, is a symbol of the company's deep commitment to India. "We are excited to bring the VinFast experience closer to Indian consumers. With this dealership in Gujarat, we aim to offer not just electric vehicles, but a complete ownership journey built on quality, trust, and service excellence. With trusted partners like Chandan Car, we are building a future-ready EV ecosystem in the country. Their proven automotive expertise, combined with VinFast's technology and vision, will help shape a premium EV experience for Indian customers," he added. Check out Upcoming EV Cars in India. First Published Date:


Economic Times
8 hours ago
- Economic Times
After Tesla's desi debut, Vietnamese EV maker VinFast opens first showroom in India
Vietnamese EV manufacturer VinFast has opened its first showroom in India, located in Surat, Gujarat, ahead of the launch of its upcoming manufacturing plant, days after Tesla made its desi debut. Located in Piplod in Surat and spread out on 3,000 the facility will offer product experiences, vehicle purchase journeys, and after-sales support. The Showroom will showcase VinFast's upcoming range of premium electric SUVs - VF 6 and VF 7. India is also the first market where VinFast is launching the right-hand drive version of the VF 7 and VF 6. As part of its ambitious roadmap, the company aims to launch 35 dealerships by year-end, across 27 plus cities, the company said in a officially opened pre-bookings for its premium electric SUVs, the VF 6 and VF 7 on July 15, can now book their preferred VinFast premium electric SUV either at the exclusive showrooms or through the official website, with a fully refundable booking amount of Rs 21,000. The vehicles will be locally assembled at VinFast's upcoming factory in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, reinforcing the company's long-term commitment to India as a strategic market and future hub for electric vehicle Sanh Chau, CEO, VinFast Asia, said, "The first VinFast Showroom in Surat, Gujarat is a symbol of our deep commitment to India. We are excited to bring the VinFast experience closer to Indian consumers. With this dealership in Gujarat, we aim to offer not just electric vehicles, but a complete ownership journey built on quality, trust, and service excellence."VinFast has entered the Indian market at a time when both local and global players are already establishing their presence, yet significant opportunities remain in this rapidly growing EV market is rapidly growing, with electric passenger vehicle sales rising from just 5,000 units in 2020 to over 113,000 in EVs currently make up less than 3% of total car sales, the central government's ambitious goal to increase this share to 30% by 2030 underscores the sector's tremendous latest player, VinFast, a small and unprofitable EV maker, briefly became the world's third most valuable automaker in 2023, behind Tesla and Toyota, after its Nasdaq debut sent shares soaring nearly 700%. Now, the company plans to open a car assembly plant in India by the end of in 2017, VinFast began making EVs in 2021. It is backed by Vingroup, Vietnam's largest conglomerate. VinFast in January last year signed an agreement with Tamil Nadu to invest as much as $2 billion in the country. Work on the plant started soon after, with an initial investment of $500 loss-making startup had initially planned to focus on America for its foreign sales, but slow progress in the United States, even before growing uncertainty caused by U.S. tariffs, pushed the company to change strategy. VinFast's entry in itself may not be a significant challenge for Tesla in India, but it points at a crowded EV space, which might make it hard for Tesla to cruise into the Indian VinFast, the real challenge begins with rivals like Tesla, which has already made its India debut. Tesla opened its first showroom in Mumbai's upscale Bandra Kurla Complex on July 15. The 4,000-square-foot space will showcase Model Y crossovers imported from China, priced at over $56,000 before taxes—roughly $10,000 more than the U.S. base price, according to Bloomberg.A second showroom is expected to open in New Delhi by the end of July, and Tesla has beefed up local hiring and secured warehousing space. But with no plans to set up a manufacturing plant in the world's third-largest automobile market, Tesla's entry into India is less about racking up immediate sales volume gains and more about gaging demand for its EVs and building up the brand's company has flirted with the idea of establishing a local manufacturing base — something the Indian government has courted and that could sidestep heavy import tariffs — but so far Tesla hasn't committed to doing Asia CEO Pham Sanh Chau has said the company doesn't view Tesla or BYD as direct competitors. Still, India's complex market dynamics—shaped by established Indian incumbents, pricing sensitivities, and evolving consumer preferences—present their own set of hurdles. As the EV race picks up pace, only time will reveal how VinFast navigates these challenges and where it ultimately stands.