Electrek reported a couple of weeks ago about a new electric scooter company coming to America. What’s different about VinFast is that it’s not just importing scooters to the US, it’s also importing a factory: The North Carolina facility, Electrek reports, is expected to break ground later this year, with production supposed to begin in 2024. The skids have reportedly been greased with a $1.2-billion incentive package from the state. There’s no need to get upset about US tax funds going to China, though, as VinFast is headquartered in Hanoi City, Vietnam.
Though then-President Trump disbanded the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal with Vietnam and a bunch of other trading partners in 2017, Vietnam and 10 other countries went ahead and signed the Comprehensive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in March, 2018. Since then, bilateral trade between the US and Vietnam has grown, and is expected to continue thriving. In fact as the US – China relationship sours, Vietnam is a beneficiary. Now they’re on our side! VinFast’s website shows seven scooters spread over three categories: High Class, Intermediate, and Common. At MO, we go straight for High Class every time.
Your Theon Will is a 3500-watt High Class number said to be good for about 60 mph. Its LFP battery charges in 6 hours, but we’re not seeing a range specification. In fact the spec chart is pretty sketchy, but you can see the twin shocks, chain drive, dec...