Vietnamese Green SM Launches EV Taxi Service in Delhi

Vietnamese electric vehicle taxi service Green SM launched its operations in Delhi NCR last month, filling a gap in India's electric ride-hailing market left by BluSmart's closure last year.

Unlike aggregator models such as Uber or Rapido, Green SM operates a controlled ecosystem. The company owns its vehicles, directly employs its drivers, and manages the entire service stack, from passenger authentication to driver onboarding. This approach promises greater consistency but requires significant capital investment in vehicles, staffing, and daily operations.

Green SM also functions as a demand driver for its parent company, VinFast, a Vietnamese automaker that entered the Indian market last August. This arrangement provides VinFast with high-volume sales, brand exposure, and real-world usage data as the manufacturer expands in the country.

While customers praise the cleaner and spacious cars, drivers are facing operational challenges. Drivers report mandated eight to ten-hour shifts and a minimum of four daily trips. They also allege inconsistent payouts compared to the promised weekly ₹8,000.

Industry analysts suggest each vehicle needs to complete at least eight daily trips at an average fare of ₹400, a target current infrastructure struggles to meet. A shortage of company-owned charging infrastructure further restricts operations, confining drivers to areas near charging hubs. Battery life limitations of approximately six hours also impact vehicle utilization. Green SM's success will hinge on its ability to overcome these obstacles in the competitive EV ride-hailing sector.