VinFast Plans US Electric Buses With Bundled Services

VinFast announced plans to introduce electric buses to the US market, offering a comprehensive package that includes charging, maintenance, and operations. Deliveries of buses approved for US use are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2028.

What Happened

The Vietnamese EV maker revealed the initiative at the APTA TRANSform & EXPO in Chicago, signing an initial agreement with NexMove, a joint venture between Transportation Management Services and Zeem Solutions. This partnership aims to provide transit agencies and fleet operators with a single provider for both the vehicles and the necessary support services. NexMove plans to offer a service agreement guaranteeing 97% uptime for the buses.

VinFast stated that approximately 2,000 of its electric buses are currently operating in Vietnam. These vehicles feature LFP batteries, fast charging capabilities, and camera and radar driver alerts. However, the announcement did not specify the exact models, range, prices, or charging speeds for the US-bound buses. To facilitate evaluation, NexMove intends to place demonstration buses at Zeem charging depots, though these units will not yet have US approval. The partners also expressed intentions to develop US manufacturing that complies with Federal Transit Administration requirements, but no specific location or production schedule was announced.

Why It Matters

For transit agencies and fleet operators, the primary appeal of this offering is the consolidation of vehicle procurement and operational support under one roof. By bundling charging, maintenance, and operations, VinFast and NexMove aim to reduce the complexity often associated with adopting electric fleets. Paul Gioupis, Founder and CEO of Zeem Solutions and cofounder of NexMove, noted that his team visited VinFast’s manufacturing operations in late July and was impressed by the scale and quality of production, describing the buses as a "proven product with real operating history."

The move into the US commercial transit sector represents a significant expansion for VinFast beyond passenger vehicles. The emphasis on a 97% uptime promise addresses a critical concern for public transit systems, where reliability is paramount. However, the lack of specific US regulatory approvals for the demonstration vehicles and the absence of a confirmed manufacturing timeline highlight that the path to widespread US adoption is still in its planning stages.

The Bottom Line

VinFast and NexMove have partnered to bring electric buses to the US with a bundled service model, targeting delivery starts in Q1 2028. While demonstration units are planned, key details regarding US-specific models, pricing, and manufacturing sites remain unannounced.