For many car buyers, the question of resale value usually comes after the excitement of buying a new vehicle. With electric vehicles, however, it can be part of the decision from the very beginning.
That is especially true in a market like the Philippines, where EVs are still relatively new and unfamiliar brands have yet to build the kind of long resale history enjoyed by traditional automakers. VinFast believes it has found a way to make that uncertainty a little easier to live with.
Its Residual Value Guarantee (RVG) Program gives eligible buyers a predetermined reference value for their vehicle, effectively putting a number on what the car could be worth at different points in its ownership life.
The need is clear. A 2025 study on EV adoption in the Philippines found that 48% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that EVs have lower resale values than conventional vehicles, while 44% expressed uncertainty about EV resale value. Deloitte’s 2023 Global Automotive Consumer Study also found that 19% of Philippine respondents considered uncertain resale value a concern when it came to battery EVs.
The company’s approach is straightforward. Under the VinFast RVG program, eligible vehicles are guaranteed up to 90% of their net retail price after six months, 86% after one year, 78% after two years, and 70% after three years, subject to the program’s conditions.
For example, a VF 5 bought at a net retail price of ₱1.099 million would have a guaranteed value of ₱769,300 after three years under the 70% guarantee.
That does not mean the vehicle magically avoids depreciation. Instead, it gives owners a predetermined financial reference point and an alternative to relying entirely on the used-car market. Qualified owners can use VinFast’s buyback mechanism, with the company purchasing the vehicle at the applicable guaranteed value, subject to the program’s terms.
But resale value is only one piece of the ownership puzzle. VinFast says it has established 33 dealerships and 59 service centers in the Philippines as of September 2026, alongside bank partnerships and efforts to expand the charging network.
The company also points to warranties of up to 10 years and 200,000 kilometers, three years of free charging at V-Green-operated stations, flexible financing, and 24-hour technical and roadside assistance.
For a young EV brand, those details matter. A predictable exit strategy can help, but long-term confidence ultimately comes from knowing that the vehicle will remain supported, usable, and relevant well after the initial purchase.
Autocar’s Take
VinFast’s RVG program addresses one of the less glamorous but very real concerns surrounding EV ownership: depreciation. Buyers may like the technology, running costs, and driving experience, but they also want to know what happens when it is time to move on. Giving that question a clear financial reference is a sensible move, particularly for a newer EV brand in the Philippines.
The guarantee alone will not determine an EV’s resale value, but it can reduce some of the uncertainty around it. More importantly, pairing the VinFast RVG program with charging, aftersales, warranty, and roadside support shows that EV ownership is about more than simply selling the car.
