Vietnamese EV maker VinFast is not just want to sell electric cars in India, they are also planning to enter the cab business. The company is reportedly working on launching its own all-electric taxi service under the Green SM brand, which already operates in several international markets. The idea is to offer affordable electric cab rides along with promoting EV adoption across the country.
According to reports, VinFast's upcoming taxi service could charge around Rs 8 per kilometre, which is similar to the pricing offered by popular ride-hailing platforms like Ola and Uber. However, one major difference could be the absence of surge pricing during peak hours, making fares more predictable for passengers.
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VinFast is expected to begin operations in the Delhi-NCR region. Initially, around 1,000 electric taxis could be deployed on roads, with plans to expand into other major cities such as Bengaluru and Hyderabad later this year. Meanwhile, the brand aims to grow its fleet to nearly 15,000 electric cabs within the next seven months, making it one of the largest EV taxi rollouts in the country.
Moreover, the taxi fleet is expected to use the recently unveiled VinFast MPV 7, a seven-seater electric MPV that was showcased for the Indian market. The model is expected to wear a distinctive turquoise paint shade, helping commuters easily identify Green SM taxis on the road. Apart from targeting customers, VinFast is also focusing on drivers. Reports indicate that drivers associated with the service could earn around Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 per month, with additional incentives and bonuses likely to be offered based on performance.
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Running its own taxi fleet offers multiple advantages for VinFast. The service acts as a moving advertisement for the brand, allowing more people to experience its electric vehicles firsthand. It can also help the company utilise production capacity from its upcoming manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu more efficiently.
Interestingly, this is not a completely new idea for VinFast. The company already operates Green SM electric taxi services in countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos and the Philippines. In Vietnam alone, the service is available across dozens of cities.
