Hans Ulsrud
Hans Ulsrud is stepping away from his role as the chief growth officer of VinFast Auto Canada Inc., the Canadian automotive arm of Vietnam-based conglomerate Vingroup.
Ulsrud is leaving to pursue other opportunities, a VinFast Auto Canada official told Automotive News Canada. The company refused to comment further on Ulsrud’s departure when contacted by phone and email last week.
Ulsrud joined VinFast in February 2021 to lead the start-up automaker’s Canadian market launch. He joined the company following an eight-month stint as the director of sales and marketing for Normerica Inc., a Mississauga-based manufacturer of packaged pet food products. He also previously served as the general manager of Porsche Centre Oakville and the Canadian corporate director for Tesla Motors, according to his LinkedIn profile. Ulsrud holds a degree in Automotive Dealer Management from Georgian College in Barrie, Ont.
VinFast Auto Canada Inc. plans to sell battery-electric vehicles in Canada through a direct-to-consumer sales model starting in the second quarter of this year. Its lineup will initially consist of two electric crossover models, the mid-size VF8 and full-size VF9, but will grow to include compact and subcompact crossover models in late 2023. VinFast’s American arm began accepting pre-orders for the VF8 and VF9 in early January, however Canadian reservations are not expected to open until later this year.
Ulsrud’s departure comes roughly a month after German auto executive Michael Lohscheller stepped down as the CEO of VinFast Global for personal reasons. Lohscheller was replaced by Vingroup vice-chairwoman Le Thi Thu Thuy.
