Cruelty-free cockpit makes this EV ‘electric vegan’
I’ve covered the motoring beat for three decades, but rarely has a carmaker stood before the media and proudly declared that its cabin has been put together using no animal products whatsoever.
The word “vegan” often triggers pushback, especially among car lovers who love the smell and feel of traditional animal-hide upholstery. Yet, during a briefing at the Nuvali driving grounds in Calamba, Laguna, VinFast Philippines training manager Radcliffe Santiago proclaimed straight out: The midsize VF 8 electric SUV comes wrapped in vegan leather.
“We didn’t kill any animal just to have leather,” Santiago declared, though I couldn’t quite tell whether he was being dead serious or tongue-in-cheek. But he was loud and clear, and that’s what mattered. “What’s the only thing we killed? Banana trees! No, really—what we use are banana and apple plant fibers.”
Beyond the ethical rationale, Santiago noted practical benefits under tropical conditions: “Most conventional leather seats use polyurethane coatings that give off plastic fumes in sweltering parking lots. Plant-based upholstery is non-toxic, breathable, and cools down significantly faster after sitting under the sun.”
BMW made waves in 2024 when it debuted its fully animal-free “Veganza” interior in the 5 Series and i5, followed by the SensaTec-appointed i4 Gran Coupe, framing this move as crucial to meeting climate-neutrality targets by 2050. Cattle rearing and hide processing remain massive sources of agricultural methane, energy use, and toxic wastewater. As an animal lover committed to a plant-based diet, I applaud this shift for ethical reasons. Traditional automotive leather claims billions of animal lives globally every year. Faux and bio-based alternatives prove luxury no longer requires cruelty.
Beyond upholstery, the VF 8 prioritizes occupant wellness with a cabin filtration system capable of catching micro-particles down to 1 micron, finer than human hair, supplemented by an integrated air ionizer. During a brief test drive around Nuvali, the cabin felt serene and well-insulated.
The interior layout takes cues from modern cockpits, anchored by an 8-speaker audio system (four main drivers and four tweeters) and an extended center console. The wireless charging pad proved refreshingly cooperative: The moment my phone touched down, it began drawing power without fiddling. The rear row offers generous utility with 60/40 split-folding backrests, dedicated A/C vents, twin USB Type-C ports, and a center armrest. Cargo capacity expands from 600 liters with seats upright to 1,600 liters folded flat—among the roomiest in the midsize D-segment.
On the road, the VF 8 is responsive and well-planted. While navigating an incline around Nuvali, I felt a momentary throttle hesitation on the climb (more likely due to my conservative foot on the accelerator), making an extended test drive worthwhile for prospective buyers to dial in pedal feel.
Safety kit is extensive. The crossover packs six airbags alongside ABS, EBD, brake assist, traction control, auto hold, hill start assist, hill descent control, rollover mitigation, and electronic stability control. Its Level 2 advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) adds adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, highway assist, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking, plus a 360-degree camera.
Santiago rightly emphasized the boundaries of these aids: “Semi-autonomous means the driver remains strictly in control. Do not leave driving entirely to the vehicle, especially on Philippine roads. These systems assist; they do not replace the driver.”
Under the hood, a permanent magnet synchronous motor sends 228 hp (170 kW) and 330 Nm of torque to the front wheels, yielding 0-100 kph acceleration in under 8 seconds and a top speed of 160 kph. Its 60.13 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) liquid-cooled battery pack delivers an estimated NEDC range of up to 480 km. It supports 7.2 kW AC charging via an included 7.4 kW home wall box, alongside DC fast-charging up to 100 kW, enabling a 10-to-70 percent top-up in roughly 30 minutes.
Running costs remain compelling. VinFast computes that a full 0-to-100% home charge costs around P902, translating to roughly P1.88/km. Covering 1,500 km a month tallies roughly P2,819 in home charging expenses, compared to over P7,000 in fuel for an equivalent diesel-powered SUV.
The VF 8 is offered in exterior hues like Infinity Black, Crimson Red (with a contrasting black roof), Starburst Blue, and Jet Black, paired with dual-tone black/gray or rich brown interior finishes.
At the official public launch of the VF 8 yesterday at Gallio Events Hall in Aseana, VinFast announced an introductory retail price for the VF 8 Comfort of P1,799,000 (battery included) and P1,548,000 (with battery subscription). On top of that, the first 1,000 buyers can slash an outright P40,200 discount off those figures.
From where I stand, regardless of the pricing promos, every purchase of the VF 8 with the all-vegan interiors is a turn for the better for every animal spared from slaughter.
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