VinFast has partnered with akf-Bank, the Wuppertal-based automotive lender owned by the Vorwerk Group, to finance vehicle inventory for its dealer network in Germany. The jointly developed products are structured for dealers at different stages of growth and support sales to both private and fleet customers. VinFast Europe said the arrangement gives retailers greater flexibility as the automaker builds out its German retail footprint.
Highlights
- Inventory financing: VinFast dealers gain access to funding for vehicle stock, with support extended to both private and fleet sales channels
- Tailored structures: akf-Bank’s portfolio spans leasing, hire purchase, factoring, and usage-based billing models alongside conventional credit
- Lender profile: akf-Bank has operated for 58 years and sits within the Vorwerk Group, headquartered in Wuppertal
- European lineup: VinFast currently offers the VF 6 (B-segment) and VF 8 (D-segment) electric SUVs plus electric buses in Germany and across Europe
What the akf-Bank Agreement Covers
The cooperation gives VinFast retailers access to what the company describes as akf-Bank’s decades of automotive retail financing experience, applied to inventory funding and to the sales side of the business. VinFast says the financing concepts are individually tailored rather than standardized across the network, which the automaker frames as a way for dealers to absorb shifting market conditions.
Neither party disclosed financial terms, credit limits, or the number of dealers covered under the arrangement.
Christian Marti, CEO of VinFast Europe, said “Germany is one of our key European markets, and a strong dealer network is fundamental to our long-term growth. Partnering with akf-Bank supports our retail partners’ growth while making it easier for customers across Germany to choose electric mobility.”
Rainer Bickel, akf-Bank Sales Director autofinanz, said “The transformation of the automotive industry opens up new opportunities for manufacturers and dealers. As a reliable partner to SMEs, we want to support VinFast dealers with needs-based financing solutions to successfully develop their business and actively shape the market ramp-up of electromobility in Germany.”
Who Is akf-Bank?
akf-Bank is an asset-based lender concentrated on the machinery, vehicle, and technology sectors, serving small and mid-sized companies across investment, sales, and purchase financing. Its product range extends from classic leasing and hire-purchase structures into as-a-service concepts and usage-based billing, and the group includes sister operations akf-Leasing and akf-Mobility.
The bank has financed customers in the metal and plastics, printing, and paper-processing industries, as well as manufacturers and dealers of passenger cars, commercial vehicles, yachts, and agricultural equipment. Mobility, renewable energy, and robotics are the growth areas the bank identifies for its lending book. Following a brand relaunch on July 1, 2026, the specialist bank has made its Vorwerk affiliation more prominent in its market positioning.
VinFast’s German Retail Buildout
VinFast has been converting its European presence to a dealer and distributor model, signing partners in Germany and other markets to carry sales, aftersales, and parts. The automaker’s European product line covers the VF 6 and VF 8 electric SUVs along with electric buses.
The company has paired that network expansion with service and charging agreements. VinFast works with Mobivia — the European aftersales group behind Norauto in France and ATU in Germany — for workshop and technical center access, and with charging partner Plugsurfing for public charging coverage across the region.
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