Vietnamese electric ride-hailing provider Green SM has begun operating in the United States, deploying its first electric taxis in Los Angeles, California, on 13 October. The launch comes a little over a month after the company entered Europe and marks its ninth market worldwide.
Riders can book through Green SM's mobile app, available on the App Store and Google Play, or use its traditional options — calling a hotline or hailing a taxi on the street.
For 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 giving customers a complimentary Green Pass membership that includes ten vouchers, each providing a 30 per cent discount capped at ten dollars per ride.
Hoang Thanh Hang, CEO of Green SM in the US, described the move as more than a geographic expansion. "The United States represents an important milestone in Green SM's growth journey," she said. "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."
A single-model fleet
Green SM operates both electric scooters and cars in its Asian markets, but its US business uses cars only. The Los Angeles fleet consists exclusively of the VinFast VF 8, a mid-size SUV and the most affordable model the brand sells in the US, priced from 39,900 dollars.
In the US, the VF 8 is available in two dual-motor all-wheel-drive variants. One produces 260 kW and 500 Nm of torque, while the other delivers 300 kW and 620 Nm. Both use an 87.7 kWh NMC battery pack. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the two versions offer ranges of 256 miles and 235 miles respectively.
Green SM has not said which configuration it chose for the fleet, or whether it uses both.
VinFast-backed expansion
Green SM was founded in 2023 by Pham Nhat Vuong, Chairman of VinFast's parent company Vingroup. The company uses only VinFast electric vehicles and says it has provided around 850 million rides covering nearly six billion kilometres to date.
Outside the US, Green SM offers its electric ride-hailing service in India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos and the Philippines in Asia, as well as in Denmark and the Netherlands in Europe.