VinFast expects to deliver its first electric buses to US customers in Q1 of 2028, after the vehicles are homologated. The launch would extend the company’s US activity into public transport. A partnership with NexMove Certified is intended to bundle vehicles with charging, maintenance and operations.
What is confirmed about the launch?
The delivery expectation is for Q1 of 2028, and VinFast has signed an initial partnership agreement with NexMove Certified. Homologation means a vehicle has been approved to meet requirements for use in a market. The source describes the planned vehicles as the first homologated buses for customer delivery in the US. It does not say that deliveries have begun or provide a specific day within that quarter.
A demonstration phase is expected before those deliveries. Initial demonstration units are due to be placed at Zeem Solutions’ EV charging depots so transit agencies and fleet operators can assess them. The source says the demonstration buses will not be homologated for passenger services. That distinction means evaluation can take place before approval for carrying passengers.
How would the partnership work?
NexMove Certified is described as a joint venture between Transportation Management Services and Zeem Solutions. It is expected to serve as VinFast’s route to market in the US. The partners plan to offer buses together with charging infrastructure, maintenance and operations, in a package similar to vehicle-as-a-service. In plain terms, customers would be offered support around operating the buses as well as the vehicles themselves.
NexMove is targeting 97 per cent uptime for this service model. Uptime is the share of time a service or vehicle is available for use. The source presents this figure as a target, rather than a reported performance result. It does not specify how uptime would be measured or what remedy would apply if the target were missed.
Which buses and requirements are involved?
VinFast has not confirmed which models or specifications it will offer in the US. Its current international range includes the EB 8 and EB 12, described as electric city buses. The company says its buses are designed for urban transport and are expected to include fast charging, LFP battery technology and connected charging, maintenance and servicing systems. Those capabilities are described at range level, not as confirmed US specifications.
The EB 12 is listed with a 422 kWh battery and a range of more than 400 km under SORT 2. It can carry up to 90 passengers and supports DC charging at up to 140 kW. The EB 8 is listed with a 359 kWh battery and an approximate SORT 1 range of 290 km. It can carry up to 60 passengers and charge at up to 120 kW.
The source says the buses will ultimately need to be manufactured in a way that meets Federal Transit Administration requirements. VinFast is looking to establish a US manufacturing base, but has not given a production timeline or facility details in this announcement. The company previously confirmed plans to resume construction of its North Carolina plant in March, with production intended to begin in 2028. The source does not clarify how that plan relates to bus production.
What remains unknown is which bus models will be approved and offered to US customers. The production location and timeline for buses also remain unspecified. The next step described is demonstration at Zeem Solutions depots, followed by homologated customer deliveries targeted for Q1 of 2028. Any change to that schedule or to the proposed service package has not been reported.