VinFast Bets On Electric MPV Space With MPV7: Tapan Ghosh On Why India Is Ready

VinFast has officially stepped into one of India's most traditional strongholds - the MPV segment. After launching its SUV-style electric offerings, the Vietnamese EV manufacturer is now entering a category long dominated by petrol and diesel vehicles. At the centre of this strategy is the VinFast MPV7, a fully electric seven-seater designed specifically for Indian families.

I sat down with Tapan Ghosh, CEO of VinFast India, to understand why the brand believes the time is right, what makes the MPV7 different, and how VinFast plans to convince conservative MPV buyers to switch to electric.

Why An MPV, And Why Now?

Siddhartha Sharma:

VinFast already has products like the VF6 and VF7 in the SUV space. What made you choose the MPV segment for your next big move?

Tapan Ghosh:

There is a genuine need for a spacious seven-seater vehicle in India. Indian families require that. The MPV7 is designed specifically for comfort and practicality. It has a wheelbase of 2,840 mm, making it one of the roomiest vehicles in its category.

Even third-row passengers will find it comfortable. The seating position and visibility have been carefully designed so that all rows feel airy and open. This is a vehicle that works both in the city and on the highway, which is exactly what Indian families look for.

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Space, Comfort, and Long-Distance Usability

Siddhartha Sharma:

We've driven the MPV7 here in Vietnam, and comfort stood out. For Indian conditions, what changes have been made, and are the seats staying the same?

Tapan Ghosh:

The product you drove is already very relevant for Indian customers in terms of space, comfort, range, and pickup. It's almost like a limousine - a very practical living room on wheels.

For India, we've worked on suspension tuning because Indian road conditions require a different setup. We've also enhanced the thermal management system to handle extreme heat and cold. Ground clearance is 185 mm, which is suitable for our roads.

Overall, the vehicle in its totality is apt for India. The core strengths - space and comfort - remain unchanged.

VinFast MPV 7

Addressing Range Anxiety Head-On

Siddhartha Sharma:

Range anxiety is a big concern, especially for families travelling with seven people. How does VinFast plan to address this?

Tapan Ghosh:

The MPV7 uses a 60 kWh battery that offers more than 500 km of range, which is among the best in the segment. For daily city use or long highway drives, this range offers confidence.

Beyond the vehicle, the charging infrastructure is also important. We have a sister concern within the group that has already started setting up charging stations. They are evaluating charging installations at around 10,000 HPCL petrol pumps. Increased access to charging will help EV adoption significantly.

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Convincing ICE MPV Buyers To Switch

Siddhartha Sharma:

This segment is heavily dominated by petrol and diesel MPVs. How do you plan to convince those buyers to make the switch?

Tapan Ghosh:

EV adoption in India has increased significantly in the last two years. Monthly EV volumes have grown from around 5,000 units earlier to over 16,000-17,000 recently, and registrations crossed 20,000 in March, based on reports.

For us, this segment actually offers an opportunity. We're offering strong exchange schemes for ICE vehicles and attractive residual value assurance. Customers can get up to 75% residual value after two years and 55% after five years.

We've done similar programs with the VF6, and we'll work out suitable ownership packages for the MPV7 as well. Free charging and additional benefits are also part of our early adoption strategy.

Network Expansion And After-Sales Strategy

Siddhartha Sharma:

Dealer and service reach is critical, especially in this category. Where does VinFast stand today, and where do you want to be by 2026?

Tapan Ghosh:

Currently, we have 51 showrooms and 130 workshops. This year, we aim to expand to 75 showrooms and over 230 workshops.

The workshop count also includes third-party service points for minor repairs in locations where our dealers are not yet present. Expansion into Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities is very important because there is strong interest coming from these markets.

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Market Share Or Market Readiness?

Siddhartha Sharma:

With three products in your portfolio now, what kind of market share are you targeting by 2026?

Tapan Ghosh:

We're not obsessing over market share. As more OEMs sell EVs, charging infrastructure improves, and customer education increases. That helps the entire ecosystem.

Our focus is on building a strong foundation - utilising our plant capacity of 50,000 vehicles annually and exciting customers with well-designed, innovative products. When EV adoption reaches an inflection point, brands with strong groundwork will benefit the most.

The Bigger Picture

With the MPV7, VinFast is entering one of India's most value-driven and loyalty-heavy segments. Instead of positioning it as a tech-heavy disruptor, the company is leaning into space, comfort, ownership assurance, and infrastructure readiness - all key decision factors for Indian MPV buyers.

Whether the electric MPV formula succeeds will ultimately depend on pricing and real-world charging access, but VinFast clearly believes India's family car buyers are finally ready to plug in.