Quick Take
- VinFast plans an EV cab service in India at Rs 8 per km via Green SM.
- The fleet target is around 10,000 Limo Green MPVs, with drivers earning Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000.
- The launch fills the gap left by BluSmart and directly challenges Ola and Uber.
VinFast EV cab service is set to launch in India with fares starting around Rs 8 per km, marking the Vietnamese maker’s biggest move yet in ride-hailing.
The service will run under Green and Smart Mobility (GSM), branded as Green SM. GSM is a separate Vingroup company owned by Chairman Pham Nhat Vuong. It will use only VinFast vehicles, mainly the new Limo Green electric MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle). India will be GSM’s fifth market, after Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Laos.
StartupFeed Insight
The Rs 8/km fare is the headline, but the real story is the model. Ola, Uber, and Rapido are aggregators: they own no cars and employ no drivers. Green SM owns the entire fleet and pays drivers a fixed salary. That is closer to the old BluSmart model, which collapsed in early 2026 after a corporate-governance crisis. VinFast is betting the gap left by BluSmart, plus a captive Tamil Nadu factory feeding its own fleet, will let it undercut rivals. Watch Delhi NCR over the next 90 days. If unit economics work at 70% utilisation, expect Bengaluru and Mumbai launches by Q3 FY27, by StartupFeed Desk.
How will the VinFast EV Cab service work?
Green SM has begun hiring drivers in the National Capital Region (NCR). Its social-media campaign uses the tagline “Driver Nahi, Partner Bano”. The ads promise earnings of Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 a month, plus insurance and performance-linked incentives.
Unlike Ola and Uber, Green SM does not operate as a pure aggregator. The company owns its cars and employs the drivers directly. It also supplies vehicles to independent fleet operators. The same model is used in Vietnam and Indonesia.
The Rs 8/km fare has been reported by multiple sources, including Sunday Guardian and Autocar Professional. Green SM has not yet officially confirmed pricing or a launch date.
The fleet: VinFast Limo Green MPV
The Limo Green is a fleet-only variant of VinFast’s MPV 7. It is built for commercial use, with steel wheels, fabric seats, and an all-black interior that is easier to clean. The VF5 small electric SUV is also expected to join the fleet.
| Spec | VinFast Limo Green |
|---|---|
| Battery | 60.13 kWh |
| ARAI-Certified Range | 517 km |
| Motor Output | 201 bhp, 280 Nm torque |
| Top Speed | 140 kmph |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive |
| Built At | VinFast Tamil Nadu plant |
The strongest signal here is the in-house supply chain. Green SM gets cars at near-cost from a sister company, which is hard for any aggregator to match.
About VinFast and Green SM
VinFast is a Vietnamese electric vehicle maker founded in 2017. It is part of Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest private conglomerate. VinFast entered India in September 2025 with the VF6 and VF7 SUVs and runs a manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu. Tapan Ghosh is CEO of VinFast India. Green SM, also a Vingroup company, is owned around 95% by Chairman Pham Nhat Vuong. It was recently valued at $20 Bn (Rs 1.66 Lakh Cr) and is reportedly eyeing a Hong Kong listing.
How does the VinFast EV cab plan compare to Ola, Uber, and Rapido?
The Rs 8/km starting fare would undercut most Ola and Uber base fares in Indian metros, which typically begin at Rs 10 to Rs 14 per km for sedans. Rapido’s auto and bike services are cheaper, but its four-wheeler taxi options are not.
| Player | Model | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green SM (VinFast) | Owns fleet, employs drivers | Rs 8/km, 100% electric |
| Ola | Aggregator | Mixed fleet, EV push via Ola Electric |
| Uber | Aggregator | Mixed fleet, Uber Green pilot |
| BluSmart | Owned-fleet EV | Operations suspended in 2026 |
What sets Green SM apart is not just the price. It controls the cars, the drivers, the charging, and the brand. That vertical stack is rare in Indian ride-hailing.
What’s Next
The first watch-out is the formal launch announcement and official fare confirmation in NCR. VinFast also plans to expand its dealer network from 35 outlets to 75 by end-2026. Will Green SM hold the Rs 8/km price once subsidies and free-charging incentives roll off? That is the question riders and rivals will be watching most closely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VinFast EV cab service in India?
The VinFast EV cab service is a new electric ride-hailing operation in India run by Green SM, a Vingroup company. Fares are reported to start at Rs 8 per km. The initial fleet target is around 10,000 VinFast Limo Green MPVs, with the Delhi NCR rollout first.
How much will VinFast EV cab drivers earn?
Green SM is offering driver partners monthly earnings of Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000, plus insurance and performance-linked incentives. The model is salary-based, not commission-based like Ola and Uber. The current hiring campaign uses the tagline “Driver Nahi, Partner Bano”.
Will VinFast EV cabs really disrupt Ola and Uber?
The Rs 8/km fare and owned-fleet model give VinFast a structural cost edge over Ola and Uber. The collapse of BluSmart also creates an open lane in the EV-only segment. Real disruption depends on scaling beyond Delhi NCR and holding prices after launch incentives end.
