Vietnamese Smart EVs Get Connected
- By CDOTrends editors
- January 25, 2022
Vietnam’s development as a manufacturer of electric and connected vehicles received a boost with the announcement from VinFast that its first three smart EV models will use in-car navigation solutions provided by HERE Technologies.
Established in 2017, VinFast is part of the Vingroup conglomerate and was created specifically to take advantage of the global electric smart vehicle transition. VinFast owns a state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing complex with globally-leading scalability that boasts up to 90% automation in Hai Phong.
The three VinFast vehicles to deploy the HERE solutions will be the VF e34, VF 8, and VF 9, and they will be deploying HERE Navigation, a one-stop navigation application.
VinFast will also be integrating HERE’s software development kit (SDK) into its dedicated smartphone mobile application to deliver a seamless and smart driving experience.
HERE Navigation will offer VinFast’s Electric Vehicles (EVs) drivers peace of mind by providing multi-stop route planning based on the car's charge level. It also enables the automatic addition of charging stops should drivers decide to re-route, capabilities that are powered by the HERE EV Charge Points Point of Interest (POIs) and API.
HERE Navigation also enables VinFast to use the navigation as a service model to achieve a simplified infotainment supply chain and development process. This allows the Vietnamese automaker to update and upgrade its navigation offerings with new features and services throughout the vehicle's lifecycle.
“The services put forth by HERE are outstanding, and they offer one of the most customizable, reliable, and accurate navigation systems for electric vehicles. Not only are these services cost-effective and highly scalable, they provide our drivers with an upgraded overall navigation and driving experience,” said Hong Sang Bae, chief technology officer at VinFast.
The VF e34 electric cars are now available in Vietnam. A handover ceremony for the first batch of the vehicles to its customers was held in December 2021 at VinFast’s Hai Phong manufacturing complex.
Founded in California but now based in the Netherlands, HERE Technologies counts automakers Audi and BMW and technology firms Nokia and Intel among its strategic investors.
Image credit: iStockphoto/Jae Young Ju