Something interesting just rolled down an Indian highway—heavily camouflaged, unmistakably electric, and carrying seven seats worth of ambition. The VinFast Limo Green, Vietnam’s answer to India’s electric MPV drought, has been caught testing on Indian roads, and it could reshape the family EV segment completely.
For a brand that only inaugurated its Thoothukudi facility months ago, VinFast is moving with startling urgency. And judging by what’s under that camouflage, they mean serious business.
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Why This Matters: India’s EV MPV Desert
Here’s the reality: India’s electric vehicle market is booming, but if you need a genuine seven-seater EV that doesn’t cost a fortune, your options are painfully limited. The Kia Carens Clavis EV and BYD eMAX 7 essentially own the segment by default, not dominance.
Enter VinFast with the Limo Green—a purpose-built electric MPV that’s already proven itself in Vietnam’s taxi fleets and family driveways. The spy shots, captured by automotive enthusiast Sandeep, reveal a test mule that’s unmistakably the Limo Green, complete with its distinctive vertical tail lamps and commanding upright stance.
Limo Green Specifications: The Numbers That Matter
Based on the Vietnam-spec model and patent filings, here’s what India can expect:
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (L×W×H) | 4,740mm × 1,872mm × 1,728mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,840mm (longer than Carens!) |
| Ground Clearance | 170mm |
| Seating Capacity | 7 adults (three proper rows) |
| Battery Capacity | 60.13 kWh lithium-ion |
| Motor Power | 204 hp (150 kW) |
| Torque | 280 Nm |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
| Range (NEDC) | 450 km per charge |
| Fast Charging | 10-70% in 30 minutes (80kW DC) |
| Wheel Size | 18-inch alloy wheels |
| Warranty (Vietnam) | 8 years/1,60,000 km (battery) |
That 2,840mm wheelbase is critical—it’s 140mm longer than the Kia Carens, translating to genuinely usable third-row space rather than the token jump seats many “seven-seaters” offer.
Design: Function Over Flash
The Limo Green doesn’t pretend to be a sleek crossover. It’s an honest-to-goodness MPV with tall roofline, expansive glass area, and proportions optimized for interior volume—exactly what families and fleet operators need.
Key design elements spotted under camouflage:
- Clean, upright front end with VinFast’s signature V-shaped LED DRLs
- Vertical tail lamps at the rear (now visible in spy shots)
- Black wheel arch cladding for a rugged touch
- Dual-tone ORVMs (outside rear-view mirrors)
- Wide tailgate for easy cargo loading
- Flat floor throughout (no transmission tunnel hump!)
Inside, expect a minimalist dashboard dominated by a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, digital instrument cluster, and floating center console. Vietnam-spec models get single-zone automatic climate control and a four-speaker audio system—adequate but not luxurious.
The Competition: Who Should Be Worried?
VinFast Limo Green vs. Rivals
| Model | Battery | Power | Range | Price Range (Est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VinFast Limo Green | 60.13 kWh | 204 hp | 450 km | ₹28-35 lakh (expected) |
| Kia Carens Clavis EV | 51.4 kWh | 170 hp | 490 km | ₹17.99-24.49 lakh |
| BYD eMAX 7 | 71.8 kWh | 201 hp | 530 km | ₹26.90-29.90 lakh |
| Mahindra XEV 9e (upcoming) | TBA | TBA | TBA | ₹30+ lakh (expected) |
The Limo Green slots in as the bigger, more spacious option compared to the Carens but potentially pricier. Against the BYD eMAX 7, it offers comparable size but slightly less range. The real battleground will be pricing and localization.
Three Driving Modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport
Like its VF 6 and VF 7 SUV siblings, the Limo Green offers three drive modes to balance efficiency and performance:
- Eco Mode: Maximizes range for city commutes
- Comfort Mode: Balanced daily driving
- Sport Mode: Full power for highway merging and overtaking
The front-wheel-drive architecture keeps things simple and cost-effective while the multi-link rear suspension (confirmed in Vietnam) should deliver a composed ride over India’s challenging roads.
The VinFast India Strategy: Local Production, Big Ambitions
VinFast isn’t importing and hoping. Their Thoothukudi facility in Tamil Nadu represents their first manufacturing plant outside Vietnam, and the Limo Green could be among the first models assembled there alongside the VF 6 and VF 7.
The brand’s aggressive India strategy includes:
- VGreens charging network with free charging initially
- Local assembly to control costs and quality
- Fleet partnerships targeting taxi and ride-sharing operators
- Warranty parity with international markets (8-year battery warranty likely)
In Vietnam, the Limo Green is priced at approximately ₹25 lakh (VND 749 million). With local assembly, competitive pricing between ₹28-35 lakh ex-showroom seems realistic for India—a sweet spot between the Carens and premium imports.
Who’s the Target Buyer?
The Limo Green addresses three distinct audiences:
1. Large Families: Those needing genuine seven-adult seating for weekend trips and daily school runs, tired of cramped third rows in pseudo-MPVs.
2. Fleet Operators: Taxi services, corporate transport, and airport shuttles seeking spacious EVs with low running costs and minimal downtime.
3. Diesel MPV Converts: Buyers considering Innova Crysta or Marazzo but open to electric if the package delivers on space, comfort, and total cost of ownership.
Timeline: When Can You Buy One?
Based on testing progress and VinFast’s production timelines, expect:
- Late 2025/Early 2026: Official India unveiling
- Mid-2026: Market launch and deliveries begin
- 2026-2027: Gradual network expansion across key cities
VinFast hasn’t officially confirmed the India launch, but patent filings, local testing, and the Thoothukudi facility investment all point toward serious intent.
The Verdict: A Serious Contender or Just Another Launch?
The Indian EV market doesn’t need more concepts or vaporware announcements. It needs affordable, practical, genuinely usable electric family vehicles. The Limo Green checks those boxes with uncommon honesty.
At 4.7 meters long with a cavernous wheelbase, proper fast-charging, and a proven track record in Vietnam’s demanding taxi market, this isn’t some hastily electrified platform. It’s a ground-up electric people-mover designed for real-world commercial and family use.
The questions that will determine success:
- Can VinFast price it competitively against established rivals?
- Will the service network expand quickly enough to support buyers?
- Can they deliver the same 8-year battery warranty offered in Vietnam?
- Will range anxiety concerns be addressed for longer family trips?
If VinFast answers these convincingly, the Limo Green could do more than compete—it could redefine what Indian families expect from electric MPVs.
