VinFast is continuing its effort to establish a presence in the United States despite sharply declining sales, fewer dealerships, and repeated delays to its planned North Carolina factory.

The Vietnamese automaker began selling electric vehicles in California before expanding into additional states during 2024 and 2025. Although VinFast previously said it had agreements with 38 dealers nationwide, it operated fewer than two dozen dealerships by the end of 2025.

Sales remain limited

VinFast sold 389 vehicles during the first seven months of the year, a 63 percent drop from the same period a year earlier. Rivian, by comparison, delivered 12,613 vehicles in the second quarter alone, despite selling models at substantially higher prices than VinFast.

Large discounts also highlight the difficulty of moving VinFast vehicles through U.S. dealerships. Average incentives for the VF 8 have reached $19,000 per vehicle, while incentives for the larger VF 9 are approaching $20,000.

Dealership inventory remains another challenge. Retailers are still selling 2024 VF 9 and 2025 VF 8 models, indicating that some vehicles have remained on sale well after their model years began.

New dealership agreements

VinFast has nevertheless secured franchise agreements for new dealerships in Tustin and Redondo Beach, California, as well as Philadelphia. Brian Finnerty, chief executive of VinFast North America, described the company’s U.S. strategy as a long-term commitment focused on expanding its sales and service network.

Finnerty said the planned locations are intended to give customers access to local sales, maintenance, and warranty support. He also pointed to continued investment in the customer experience, the company’s team, its products, and its sales and service policies.

The new agreements do not change the difficult position of VinFast’s existing U.S. operation. The company has delivered only a few thousand EVs since beginning American sales three years ago, while its dealer footprint has contracted from the previously discussed 38 locations.

North Carolina factory delayed

VinFast’s broader U.S. ambitions have also faced delays. Its planned North Carolina manufacturing facility was originally expected to begin building vehicles in mid-2024. Earlier this year, the automaker moved that target to 2028.

For now, the new franchise agreements suggest VinFast is still pursuing a long-term U.S. presence, even as weak sales, substantial incentives, aging inventory, and the delayed factory continue to weigh on its expansion.