Newly appointed VinFast Philippines President Rhomel Franco vowed to continue the growth momentum built by his predecessor, Antonio “Toti” Zara III, as the number one battery electric vehicle (BEV) brand in the country.
“Basically, Toti started many things so I will continue the momentum and make sure to maintain our position of being the number one battery EVs in the Philippines,” Franco said on Monday during the media announcement of his appointment and the launch of VinFast’s latest BEV model, the VF MPV 7—its second multipurpose vehicle in the country. Zara will focus on his role as president of VinFast Southeast Asia, overseeing Indonesia, the largest market in the region.
In a speech, Zara said that VinFast had already captured the title of the number one BEV brand in the Philippines in the first quarter of the year. He also said that the local subsidiary is expected to end the year with a network of 60 dealerships.
In addition, the company is building its EV infrastructure ecosystem with the installation of charging stations to match the number of VinFast units sold. VinFast offers free charging for three years, or until 2029, for its customers.
To ensure buyers are guaranteed maintenance service and spare parts supply, Zara said that aside from a 10-year warranty, the company has established 30 accredited independent third-party workshops by end 2025. There are already 45 workshops to date, and the company is looking to expand to 100 accredited partners. It also maintains 80,000 part numbers in its warehouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
“I think we’ve busted all the myths related to owning an EV, which is not just a niche vehicle, but a practical buy. We are now at an inflection point toward electrified mobility,” he said.
He said that based on estimates, BEV penetration in the domestic market in the second quarter is expected to grow by 100 percent, doubling the more than 50 percent growth recorded in the first quarter.
Zara said this is because the question for new car buyers is no longer whether to get a diesel- or gasoline-powered vehicle, but, “Will I buy plug-in hybrid or will I buy a battery, electric vehicle?”
“We are confident the trend would move towards battery electric vehicles as we expand charging the infrastructure. We really are committed to be the number one EV charging stations provider in the Philippines,” he added.
In the next 12 months, VinFast will aggressively embark on the introduction of new models.
VF MPV 7
For its latest model, Franco said the VF MPV 7 is priced at PHP 1,518,000 for the battery-included version and PHP 1,239,000 under the battery subscription model. The flexible battery subscription policy is tailored to real-world usage needs, with a monthly fee of PHP 2,700 for distances of up to 2,000 km and PHP 4,150 for distances exceeding 2,000 km.
Starting May 5, 2026, customers can place orders for the VF MPV 7 through VinFast dealerships nationwide. The first 1,000 customers will be entitled to a promotional program, including one year of free battery subscription for usage of up to 2,000 km per month. Customers opting to purchase the vehicle with the battery included will receive a direct discount of PHP 27,200.
Positioned as a versatile seven-seater electric MPV for families, the VF MPV 7 targets customers seeking a meaningful upgrade from conventional MPVs. With the MPV segment accounting for nearly 20 percent of total automotive sales in the Philippines, the VF MPV 7 offers a well-balanced solution combining spaciousness, strong performance, and competitive ownership costs—addressing the most critical criteria for family vehicle buyers.
