WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - U.S. auto safety

investigators said on Monday they have launched an investigation

into the April crash of a VinFast VF 8 electric

vehicle in Pleasanton, California, in which a family of four

died.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the

investigation will probe the April 24 crash circumstances and

the ensuing fire. A complaint filed with the agency on April 29

said steering may have been an issue in the crash that killed a

couple along with their children aged 13 and 9.

Pleasanton Police said the driver in the single-vehicle

accident appeared to have lost control and collided with a large

oak tree and that speed may have been a factor.

Vietnamese automaker VinFast, which started selling vehicles

in the United States in 2023, did not immediately respond to a

request for comment.

The Pleasanton Weekly earlier this month quoted a VinFast

spokesperson as saying the automaker was aware of the accident,

adding: "The authorities are currently investigating the cause

of the accident and will share their findings when their work is

completed."

The agency typically opens more than 100 special crash

investigations annually into emerging technologies and other

potential auto safety issues.

The complaint filed with NHTSA on April 29 by a coworker of

the driver in the fatal crash said that in a separate incident

the steering wheel automatically maneuvered to the right but the

coworker was able to regain control of the steering wheel and

was concerned the steering issue had reoccurred in the fatal

crash.

Police told media that the family did not own the car.

TechCrunch reported the investigation earlier on Monday.