(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Chicago Auto Show has seen a lot of firsts over its 100 or so years, and 2025 is no exception.
Visitors to this year's show have an opportunity to check out the first Vietnam-built cars sold in the U.S. The VinFast brand has brought two all-electric SUVs to McCormick Place: the VF8, which is a two-row SUV about the size of a Tesla Model Y and the VF9, which seats seven and is about the size of a Kia EV9.
VinFast is part of a giant conglomerate that deals in everything from groceries to real estate, and it's only been building cars for eight years as part of an aggressive plan to become a major player in the worldwide car market.
The VinFast cars promise about 250 miles of range, a comprehensive ten-year warranty, and aggressive pricing: the VF8 starts around $46,000, but the company's offering no-money-down leases for $250 a month.
VinFast Lisle is the only Chicago-area dealer for the Vietnam-built EVs, and it supplied two VF8s for people to drive for themselves as part of the Chicago Drives Electric experience at the south end of the show.
The 2025 Chicago Auto Show runs through Feb. 17 at McCormick Place. You can find complete details about the Chicago Auto Show, including information about tickets and parking, on their website.
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