VinFast’s Bike-ish DrgnFly Is “Not Simply An E-Bike,” It is Copypasta

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It’s that point of yr when tech corporations are debuting all types of recent merchandise within the US, because of the large publicity supplied by the Shopper Electronics Present (CES), and whereas among the a lot ballyhooed launches are for really new and distinctive gadgets, lots of the others are most decidedly rehashes (or digital carbon copies) of merchandise which are already in the marketplace underneath the banner of various corporations. In that vein, the most recent launch from Vietnam’s VinFast, which has been making waves within the electrical automobile market, is an e-bike that bears greater than a passing resemblance to a different e-bike which is already in the marketplace.

Check out the VinFast DrgnFly (what’s with the lacking vowels in model and mannequin names today — is there a scarcity of them?), which the corporate simply introduced as being out there within the US quickly. It’s a scrambler-ish setup which VinFast describes as “neo-retro,” that includes a 750W rear hub motor, a beefy body with moto-style handlebars, and which is presupposed to be “a related and sensible electrical bike,” largely as a result of it has… look forward to it… an app.

Now take one other — nearer — have a look at the outrageously priced ($2800!) electrical bike and examine it to Super73’s (additionally excessive priced) Z-series of e-bikes, and spot how extremely close to the DrgnFly is to a carbon copy of these. Uncanny, am I proper? I’m undecided how or why VinFast determined to nearly blatantly rip off the design of one other firm and promote it as one thing new, however this kind of conduct appears to be one of many new themes in micromobility. I imply, positive, don’t reinvent the wheel and all of that, and sure, there are solely so some ways to design and construct bicycle-ish two-wheelers, and there’s nothing new underneath the solar, however certainly somebody within the design division at VinFast is responsible of phoning it in with the DrgnFly.

Look comparable?
byu/airoid inVinFastComm

After all, some, if not many, of the specs are completely different on the DrgnFly (what a PITA to sort that out) than these of the Super73 Z-series, however I really feel like that’s like splitting hairs when the general look is remarkably comparable. And sure, there are different e-bike manufacturers on the market which are responsible of among the similar kind of copypasta of their designs, however when it’s offered by an up-and-coming auto producer with a deep pockets and a protracted attain within the media, it’s simply not cricket.

Perhaps the blame can be partially laid on the ft of the collaborating designers, “Eskild Hansen, an revolutionary Danish studio with a number of Pink Dot Design awards,” however ultimately, somebody (most certainly a number of someones) signed off on this and deliberate not solely its manufacturing, however its public launch at CES. Certain, that sort of conduct is just not remarkable, and is possibly even par for the course with shopper gizmos, however the true query is when will Super73 take umbrage at this brazen act sufficient to convey down the authorized hammer?

That is severe: Vinfast may get into authorized hassle with the DrgnFly
byu/albert1165 inVinFastComm

In parting, I’ll simply depart you with the phrases of Ms. Tran Mai Hoa, Deputy CEO of Gross sales and Advertising and marketing, VinFast World, who can also be responsible of driving the “it’s not what it really is, it’s a ‘way of life’ factor” practice with regards to promoting ‘new’ clear tech merchandise:

“VinFast’s DrgnFly isn’t just an e-bike, it’s a life-style choice for contemporary customers who search to specific their persona. With its distinctive design and a variety of sensible applied sciences, the DrgnFly provides a secure but distinctive and accessible mobility choice for everybody.”