Green SM has begun operating electric taxis in the United States, deploying its first vehicles in Los Angeles, California, on 13 October. The move marks the Vietnamese electric ride-hailing provider's entry into North America and its ninth market globally, coming a little over a month after it expanded into Europe.
Riders can book trips through the company's mobile app, available on the App Store and Google Play, or through more traditional channels such as its hotline or by hailing a taxi on the street.
Launch promotions
To mark the launch, Green SM is offering a 50 per cent discount, capped at 12 dollars per ride, on a customer's first five trips. It is also providing a complimentary Green Pass membership that includes ten vouchers, each giving a 30 per cent discount capped at ten dollars per ride.
Hoang Thanh Hang, the CEO of Green SM in the U.S., framed the launch as more than a geographic expansion. "The United States represents an important milestone in Green SM's growth journey. We are not simply expanding into a new market. We aim to build trust with customers, drivers and local communities, one journey at a time," Hang said.
A VinFast-only fleet
While Green SM operates both electric scooters and cars in its Asian markets, its U.S. service uses cars only. The Los Angeles fleet consists entirely of VinFast's VF 8, a mid-size SUV and the brand's most affordable model in the United States, priced from 39,900 dollars.
VinFast sells the VF 8 in the U.S. in two dual-motor all-wheel-drive variants. One delivers 260 kW and 500 Nm of torque, the other 300 kW and 620 Nm. Both use an 87.7 kWh NMC battery pack. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the first configuration offers a range of 256 miles, while the second delivers 235 miles. Green SM has not disclosed which configuration it chose for its fleet, or whether it uses both.
Company background
- Green SM was established in 2023 by Pham Nhat Vuong, Chairman of Vingroup, the parent company of VinFast.
- The company operates exclusively with VinFast electric vehicles and says it has provided around 850 million rides covering nearly six billion kilometres to date.
- Beyond the United States, it offers electric ride-hailing in India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos and the Philippines in Asia, and in Denmark and the Netherlands in Europe.
The U.S. launch extends Green SM's electric-only model to a new continent. The company has not disclosed plans for additional U.S. cities or a timeline for further expansion.