Photo credit: VinFast
Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast hit a snag on the road, with one of its VF 8 electric cars getting into an accident in California last month. This incident led to the deaths of a family of four.
US safety investigators are currently studying the circumstances. TechCrunch reported.
As per the report, a complaint to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hinted that steering problems, coupled with high speeds, possibly led to the accident. According to the complaint, the vehicle’s owner had previously experienced an uncommanded jerk in steering.
In a statement, VinFast said it is working together with NHTSA to pinpoint the cause of the crash, and stressed that the administration is not probing VinFast itself.
“The Pleasanton police are currently investigating the cause of the accident and will share their findings when their work is completed,” the company said.
Prior to this incident, there was at least one reported complaint to the NHTSA regarding an unexpected wheel turn, TechCrunch noted.
VinFast debuted in the US in 2023, and its products received criticism from reviewers. In May of last year, the company had to recall some of its EVs due to a software glitch.
It was also reported recently that the firm is being sued in a California court for having not paid rent for a store since last May, which has now accumulated to US$356,000.
VinFast recorded a net loss of US$618.3 million in the first quarter of 2024, which is more than twice its total revenue for the same period. Despite a year-on-year increase, the company’s revenue of US$302.6 million for the quarter represents a 31% decline compared to Q4 2023.
See also: Vietnamese battery startups eye more green financing to power renewables push
Editing by Miguel Cordon and Lorenzo Kyle Subido
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