Vijay's viral toy car moment; What was the mini SUV gifted to Tamil Nadu CM?
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has once again caught the attention of social media, this time for an unexpected moment during a meeting with representatives of Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast. A video showing him carefully examining a miniature model of an SUV gifted to him has gone viral, with many praising his candid and cheerful reaction.
What was the gift?
The scale model presented to Vijay was a miniature version of the VinFast VF8, one of the company's electric SUVs sold in international markets. The model appears to resemble the earlier version of the VF8, which continues to be available in some global markets, while a facelifted version has already been introduced in others.
The souvenir was presented by Pham Sanh Chau, CEO of VinFast Asia Operations, during his meeting with the Chief Minister.
Why the video went viral?
#CMVijay's cute playtime with a Miniature Toy Car... 🤎🚗 pic.twitter.com/dmrxMCbeO2
— 𝐒𝐚𝐤𝐭𝐡𝐢 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢 𝑻𝑽𝑲 (@mersal_sakthi03) July 13, 2026
In the now widely shared video, Vijay is seen accepting the miniature SUV before taking a closer look at it and holding it in his hands. His natural and curious reaction quickly drew attention online, with many users describing the moment as "cute" and appreciating what they viewed as his simple and down-to-earth personality.
About the VinFast VF8
The latest-generation VinFast VF8 is powered by a 60.13 kWh battery pack paired with a front-mounted electric motor producing 228 hp and 330 Nm of torque. According to the company, the electric SUV offers a 500 km driving range under the NEDC test cycle and can be charged from 10% to 70% in under 30 minutes.
The earlier-generation VF8, on which the gifted scale model appears to be based, featured a larger 87.7 kWh battery and was offered in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. The front-wheel-drive version produced 201 hp and 310 Nm of torque, while offering a claimed 562 km NEDC range, which is higher than the latest version despite its lower power output.
The viral interaction has also generated fresh interest in VinFast and its electric vehicle lineup. While the meeting itself focused on the company's engagement with the Tamil Nadu government, the miniature VF8 gifted to the Chief Minister unexpectedly became the highlight, sparking conversations across social media.