Car brands in Vietnam are using ‘free fuel’ deals to attract buyers. Is it a real perk or a marketing gimmick? Read our full analysis.
Fuel prices in Vietnam have recently stabilized after a period of volatile fluctuations. However, for owners of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, the ongoing cost of fuel remains a significant financial consideration. To address this pain point and stimulate sales, several automotive brands in Vietnam are introducing an unconventional promotional tactic: gifting ‘free fuel’ to new car buyers.
Omoda’s Bold Claim: 8 Years of Free Fuel
During the launch of the Omoda C5 SHS-H in the Vietnamese market, Omoda (a brand under the Chery Group) captured headlines by announcing a promotion that offers customers free fuel for eight years of vehicle ownership.
Specifically, the first 99 customers to place a deposit for the Omoda C5 SHS-H Premium by April 30 will receive a fuel benefit with a maximum value of 80 million VND. However, there is a catch: this amount is not given as a fuel card but is instead deducted directly from the vehicle’s purchase price. This brings the price of the Premium version down from 669 million VND to 599 million VND.
For the C5 SHS-H Flagship version, the offer also runs until April 30 without a limit on the number of deposits, reducing the price from 749 million VND to 669 million VND.
The Math Behind the ‘Free Fuel’
While the marketing sounds impressive, a closer look suggests this is more of a price discount strategy than a genuine fuel gift. When broken down, the 80 million VND benefit over eight years equates to:
- Per year: 10 million VND
- Per month: Approximately 833,000 VND
- Per week: Approximately 192,000 VND
At current RON 95 prices, 192,000 VND covers only about 7.9 liters of petrol per week. For context, 833,000 VND per month is roughly 34.25 liters—an amount that wouldn’t even fill the tank of a small A-segment car like the Kia Morning or Hyundai Grand i10.
Even for the fuel-efficient Omoda C5 SHS-H, which boasts a Super Hybrid drivetrain consuming about 4.9L/100km, this benefit only covers roughly 161 km per week, or about 23 km per day. For the average urban commuter, this is a modest contribution rather than a “free ride.”
Volkswagen and Mitsubishi: Different Approaches
Omoda isn’t the only player utilizing fuel as a lure. Other established brands have implemented similar, though varied, strategies.
Volkswagen’s Premium Perk
In March, Volkswagen Vietnam announced that customers purchasing models such as the Viloran, Teramont X, Touareg, Teramont President, Golf Plus, and Tiguan would receive free fuel for one year. While the company did not disclose the exact monetary value of the package, the move is seen as a way to lower the total cost of ownership for buyers of their high-end SUV and MPV lineup.
Mitsubishi’s Consistent Voucher Strategy
Mitsubishi has long integrated fuel vouchers into its periodic promotional cycles. In March, the brand continued this trend with vouchers ranging from 8 million to 21 million VND depending on the model:
- Xpander: The AT Premium and Xpander Cross both receive 20 million VND in fuel vouchers.
- Xforce: The GLX and Ultimate (single-tone) versions receive 15 million VND, while the Premium version gets 21 million VND, and the Ultimate (two-tone) receives 20 million VND.
- Attrage: The MT and CVT Premium versions are offered 8 million VND.
- Triton: 2WD AT GLX and Premium versions receive 10 million VND, while the 2025 4WD AT Athlete receives a 20 million VND voucher along with a 100% registration fee waiver, bringing the total incentive value to approximately 76 million VND.
Final Verdict: Marketing Magic or Genuine Value?
These “free fuel” campaigns are clever psychological tools. By framing a price discount as a “fuel gift,” car brands can make the offer feel more tangible and directly address a daily worry for the consumer. While the actual amount of fuel provided may be small compared to total annual usage, these incentives remain effective in driving foot traffic to showrooms and closing deals in a competitive market.