Vietnam Register warns against purchase of electric cars

Over the last few days, sellers have posted Facebook advertisements for what they call 'mini electric cars,' appealing to consumers with sleek design and affordable prices.

“There are two types of electric cars: those with handlebars, like scooters, and those with steering wheels, like normal cars,” reads one of the Facebook ads.

The four-seater cars are advertised as being able to travel at up to 100km on a charge, and can accommodate features such as air-conditioners and music systems.

The sellers made no secret that the vehicles are sourced from China, and ask VND33 million (US$1,473) for each of the “customizable electric cars.

An electric car is seen in this photo posted on the Facebook page of a seller.

A Facebook user, Pham Thu Trang, is selling a “deluxe version” of the electric cars. For VND35 million (US$1,563), half the market price, she says she will deliver an electric car capable of traveling at 45kph.

“The length, width, and height of the cars are 2.3 meters, 1.1 meters and 1.45 meters,” she wrote.

Trang claims that the cars are eligible to travel and consumers only need a normal motorbike driving license to legally operate the vehicle.

“Still, you must get it registered and we will provide all the necessary papers for registration,” the seller said, asserting that her products are “officially imported, not smuggled, so no worries of getting them seized.”

Such electric cars have captured attention from many Facebook users interested in their attractive prices, which are even cheaper than a medium-segment scooter such as Honda Air Blade.

However, such ads are misleading, according to an official from the Vietnam Register, the state agency in charge of vehicle registration.

Legally speaking, four-seater electric cars are treated as any regular automobiles, so they are required to be imported, certified, registered, and get a license plate as per regulations,” Nguyen Huu Tri, deputy head of the Vietnam Register, told VnExpress.

The official added electric cars must have their technical safety and environment standards supervised by the Vietnam Register before being allowed to be imported.

“So far we have received no requests from customs officers to inspect any batches of imported electric cars,” he said.

Thus far, the Vietnam Register has only certified electric cars used for internal travel at resorts and tourist attractions, according to the official.

“Traveling on unregistered and unlicensed electric cars is against the law, so it is highly recommended that people beware of electric vehicles advertised online,” Tri said.

“Such vehicles have dubious origin and their quality and safety are uncertified.”