NHTSA launches investigation into VinFast's lane-keeping assist system failure.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Thursday that it has launched a preliminary investigation into some electric vehicles produced by Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast (VFS.US) due to reports that the lane-keeping assist system is not functioning properly. In a statement, NHTSA said that before investigating approximately 3,118 VinFast vehicles, the regulatory agency received 14 reports from drivers of VinFast 2023 and 2024 model year vehicles, stating that the system "struggles to detect lanes on the road, provides incorrect steering input, and is difficult for the driver to control." NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation stated that the preliminary evaluation will investigate the scope, frequency, and severity of potential issues, as well as determine whether the affected vehicles have any safety-related defects. VinFast, which began selling cars in the United States in 2023, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company's chairman stated that their sales in North America last year were less than 1,000 vehicles. Earlier this year, NHTSA also launched an investigation into an accident involving a VinFast VF 8 electric vehicle that occurred on April 24 in Pleasanton, California, resulting in four fatalities. A complaint submitted to the agency on April 29 stated that steering could be an issue in a crash that resulted in the deaths of a couple and their 13 and 9-year-old children.