VinFast, the Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, and IRONMAN, the global leader in long-distance triathlon, have announced a global partnership for VinFast to become the first-ever naming rights partner of the IRONMAN US Series from 2022.

The signing ceremony for the partnership was held on July 23 in the southern province of Khanh Hoa's Nha Trang, during the Vingroup Elite Vietnam Tour 3.

Delegates attend the signing ceremony. Photo: Vingroup

Under the agreement, the Vietnamese EV maker will also become the title partner for the 2022 IRONMAN® World Championship and the 2023 IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championship, as well as the Exclusive EV Partner of the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 Series in the US, Europe, and Asia from 2022 to 2025. 

Moreover, VinFast will be the Exclusive Automotive Vehicle, EV, Electric Scooter, and Electric Bus partner, providing EVs, including scooters, cars, and buses for IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events. 

As Naming Rights Partner for the VinFast IRONMAN US Series, Title partner of the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship, and a Premier Partner, VinFast will be provided with the highly visible brand association at IRONMAN events around the globe. 

It will provide unique direct-to-consumer experiences on-site at IRONMAN races with opportunities for participants and fans to experience a next-generation EV car through test drives and other experiential programing. 

Speaking the cooperation, Andrew Messick, President and Chief Executive Officer for The IRONMAN Group, said: “We value the way VinFast pushes the boundaries forward through their smart and eco-friendly electric vehicles to create a sustainable future for all. This is much like the spirit of IRONMAN and our athletes to break through and surpass preconceived boundaries.”

By associating with IRONMAN and its series of mass participation sporting events that positively affect millions of people around the world, VinFast takes the opportunity to widely promote itself among global citizens, as well as inspire them on the use of EVs.

Regarding the strategy behind the partnership, Le Thi Thu Thuy, Vingroup Vice Chairwoman, and VinFast Global CEO said: “Sharing the spirit that ‘Anything is Possible,’ we are honored to be a Premier Partner of IRONMAN & IRONMAN 70.3 Series. We are proud to be part of the moments that push people beyond their boundaries, and beyond what many have thought is humanly possible. We are certain that our electric mobility will strongly underpin the journeys of IRONMAN athletes around the world to be boundless.”

IRONMAN events are globally known for being one of the world’s most challenging single-day sporting competitions. Since its debut in 1978, the IRONMAN triathlons are a series of full-distance races composed of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride, and a 26.2-mile run, in that order. Similar to the IRONMAN triathlons, the IRONMAN 70.3 triathlons maintain the structure and format of the original triathlon series but with half-distance triathlons composed of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, and 13.1-mile run.