VinFast rewrites the rules

Just a few days ago, VinFast surprised everyone by letting Filipinos vote on future EV designs through its PiliPinas campaign. While most brands guard upcoming models like state secrets, VinFast put theirs on public display and asked the country to help shape them.

It already felt like a major break from tradition. Turns out, that was only the warm-up.

VinFast is once again shaking up the local car scene, this time with a program that tackles one of the biggest worries Filipinos have about electric vehicles. Many buyers still wonder what happens to the car’s value after a few years.

At a closed-door briefing in Taguig, VinFast Southeast Asia CEO Toti Zara announced the Residual Value Guarantee program, a new policy that gives buyers a written promise of what their car will be worth later on.

It applies to every VinFast model sold in the Philippines, from the compact VF 3 to the three-row VF 9, and covers vehicles bought in cash or through financing.

VinFast will buy back a qualifying vehicle for up to 90 percent of its price after six months of use. After a year, the guaranteed value is 86 percent. At two years, it becomes 78 percent, and by three years, the minimum guaranteed value levels out at 70 percent.

No brand in the country currently offers anything similar.

Zara framed the program as a direct response to the doubts that continue to follow EVs, especially for first-time buyers. “People ask the same questions,” he said.

“Will I really save on fuel and maintenance? Is charging convenient enough? And what will my car be worth after a few years?” According to Zara, the company is confident enough in its vehicles to put those answers in writing.

The rules for eligibility are simple. The car must be in good running condition, with no major accident, flood, or fire damage. Normal wear and tear is fine, and the car must stay within the 25,000-kilometer annual mileage limit.

If repairs are needed, customers can choose to fix them first or let VinFast deduct the repair costs from the computed buyback amount. Regular preventive maintenance must also be done, just like any standard warranty requirement.

Owners submit a request at any enrolled VinFast dealership. A representative coordinates the inspection, collects the documents, and forwards everything to VinFast’s review team. Once the buyback value is confirmed, the customer receives a formal offer.

If the offer is accepted, the dealer schedules the payment and turnover. After that, the vehicle stays within VinFast’s ecosystem.

Zara shared that the program has already been rolled out in Indonesia, and the first batch of returned vehicles proved the system worked as intended.

One early customer had to return the car due to personal circumstances, and according to Zara, the guaranteed value gave the buyer the financial breathing room he needed. “There’s no catch,” he said. “We made the commitment, and we honored it.”

The RVG program is only one part of a bigger plan. VinFast already works with dozens of accredited third-party workshops for servicing, a move meant to make EV maintenance more accessible nationwide.

VinFast wants Filipinos to feel secure about shifting to EVs. PiliPinas gave the public a voice in design. The Residual Value Guarantee addresses fears about depreciation and long-term cost.

For Zara, it’s all part of rewriting the rules. One bold step after another. And as the company prepares new models, new services, a wider charging network, and a growing ecosystem in the country, they’re not slowing down anytime soon.

These are exciting times for car buyers, especially those curious about going electric. This program makes transition no longer feel risky or out of reach.

VinFast is giving Filipinos a front-row seat to a new chapter in EV ownership.