VinFast Secures BNCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings for VF6, VF7

Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast, which is looking at India as a critical market for its global expansion, has secured the highest safety ratings in the BNCAP (Bharat New Car Assessment Program) for its first set of electric cars in India — the VF6 and VF7 electric SUVs. This comes ahead of the launch of a seven-seater electric MPV — the Limo Green — expected in February.

The 5-star ratings for both its locally assembled models in India come as VinFast looks to scale its volumes here. The automaker has sold over 1,000 electric cars since launching its first two models in India in September 2025, and entered the top four electric car sellers in India during December, outpacing Hyundai, Kia and BYD.

“Both VF6 and VF7 achieved 5-star ratings in the two core safety categories. Specifically, VF6 recorded 27.13/32 points in Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and 44.41/49 points in Child Occupant Protection (COP). VF7 achieved 28.54/32 points in AOP and 45.25/49 points in COP. These scores reflect a high level of protection for both adult and child occupants across both models,” the company said.

The VF6 and VF7 are both locally assembled at the company’s Thoothukudi plant in Tamil Nadu. The company is gradually scaling up its showroom and service points across major cities, while its Tamil Nadu production facility continues to ramp up output. The management noted that local manufacturing is central to VinFast’s strategy in India.

Meanwhile, Vietnam-based taxi operator Green and Smart Mobility (GSM) is also planning to enter India’s ride-hailing market in February 2026, with a fleet of electric cars from VinFast. GSM is owned by Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup and is backed by its chairman, Pham Nhat Vuong.

The company is also planning to enter India’s electric two-wheeler and bus market this year. VinFast has committed to invest US$2 billion in India and is expanding its factory in Tamil Nadu for manufacturing electric buses and two-wheelers.

BNCAP is a government-led program that evaluates the safety of cars in India and assigns star ratings for each model based on its safety performance. Though voluntary, BNCAP is gaining importance, as consumers are becoming more conscious about car safety and demanding higher safety standards.

BNCAP has tested more than 25 vehicles, primarily SUVs. Maruti Suzuki’s first BEV, the eVitara, was the latest electric car to secure a 5-star rating in BNCAP. Most electric cars from Tata and Mahindra & Mahindra also have the highest safety star ratings.