You open your phone on a Tuesday morning. The Delhi heat feels unbearable, you need an airport ride. You look at the usual transport options. You know the exact drill by now. You book a ride, you wait for ten minutes. The driver cancels without warning. You book another car quickly. It finally arrives with a broken air conditioner. You sit in heavy traffic for an hour. You sweat in the back seat the entire time. This specific routine happens thousands of times a day. People across the National Capital Region hate this process. Commuters waste hours dealing with unreliable transportation when they just need to get to work.
Vingroup wants to fix this daily reality. The Vietnamese company will launch its electric ride-hailing service in India on June 5 2026, The company calls this service Green SM. People in other markets call it GSM. That stands for Green and Smart Mobility. They start operations in the Delhi-NCR area first. They plan to expand to other major Indian cities later. Uber and Ola let anyone with a qualifying vehicle join their network. They provide the software, they take a cut of the fare. Green SM owns all their vehicles outright. They manage the entire fleet directly, They use only electric cars built by VinFast. VinFast is their own sister company. They control the entire experience from the factory floor to the final passenger drop-off.
The VinFast Limo Green Hits the Streets
Green SM will use the VinFast Limo Green for its initial rollout. The company plans to put 1,000 of these vehicles on Delhi streets immediately. The Limo Green is a commercial adaptation of the VinFast VF MPV 7. The regular consumer version costs around Rs 24.49 lakh at the dealership. The taxi version drops many luxury features to save money. A commercial car needs to survive harsh daily use.
You will spot these cars easily in heavy traffic. They wear a bright cyan paint job. This color stands out against the normal white and silver vehicles. They carry large Green SM logos on the doors. The commercial cars use basic 18-inch steel wheels with plastic covers. The consumer car uses 19-inch alloy rims. Steel wheels bend when they hit deep potholes, alloy wheels crack under the exact same impact. A bent steel wheel can be hammered back into shape cheaply. This specific design choice keeps repair costs low. It keeps the cars on the road longer.
The inside looks different as well. The consumer MPV features a brown and black interior finish. The Limo Green uses an entirely black cabin, black hides stains much better. A taxi sees dozens of different passengers every single day. People track mud inside, they spill coffee on the seats. A dark interior simply makes sense for a massive commercial fleet. The seats use a heavy-duty synthetic vinyl material. They do not use the soft leather found in the consumer model. Vinyl wipes clean with a simple wet cloth. A driver can clean a spill in thirty seconds. They do not lose valuable working hours at a detailing shop.
The steering wheel lacks physical buttons completely. All controls live inside the central touchscreen display. The driver manages the air conditioning through that screen, they adjust the media settings there too. The cabin offers space for seven people. You can fit your entire family inside comfortably. You can bring all your heavy luggage for a long trip to the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Consumer vs. Commercial MPV Configuration
| Feature | VinFast VF MPV 7 | VinFast Limo Green |
| Target Market | Private Buyers | Commercial Fleet |
| Exterior Paint | Multiple Options | Cyan with Green SM Branding |
| Wheels | 19-inch Alloy Wheels | 18-inch Steel Wheels with Covers |
| Interior Color | Brown and Black | All-Black |
| Seat Material | Premium Leather | Heavy-Duty Vinyl |
| Steering Controls | Physical Buttons | Screen-only Controls |
| Seating Capacity | Seven Seats | Seven Seats |
Battery Capacity and Daily Range
A commercial electric vehicle needs a massive battery to function properly. Taxis run constantly throughout the entire day. Drivers lose money every time they stop to charge the car. The Limo Green uses a 60.13 kWh battery pack. It shares this exact battery with the passenger version. The ARAI claims this setup delivers 517 kilometers of driving range. Real-world traffic conditions in Delhi will reduce that final number significantly. The air conditioning runs constantly during the brutal summer heat. Stop-and-go traffic drains battery power very quickly. A battery this size provides enough energy for a full working shift. The driver does not need to hunt for a plug mid-day.
The front-mounted electric motor produces 204 horsepower. It generates exactly 280 Nm of torque. Most commercial vehicles in India operate with less than 100 horsepower. This means the Limo Green can merge onto busy highways easily. It will not struggle when climbing steep flyovers. It pulls smoothly even with seven heavy adults sitting inside. Delhi roads destroy suspension parts very quickly. The Limo Green uses heavy-duty shock absorbers to handle the abuse. The ride feels slightly stiffer than the consumer car, it handles speed breakers much better. The ground clearance remains high enough to clear flooded intersections.
The fleet version requires a separate ARAI certification for commercial use. Tapan Kumar Ghosh is the Vinfast India CEO. He confirmed this specific detail in a recent interview. They cannot just put yellow taxi plates on the standard consumer car. The government tests the commercial version separately. They ensure it meets all safety requirements for public transport.
Charging these large batteries requires dedicated infrastructure across the city. A standard 50 kW fast charger works very well. It brings the battery from 20 percent to 80 percent in an hour. The company manages this charging schedule centrally for all drivers. Drivers do not have to guess where to find a working charger. The Green SM app routes them to specific charging depots. They do this during their scheduled downtime. This central coordination prevents long lines at public charging stations. It keeps the entire fleet moving efficiently through the city streets.
App Interface and Passenger Safety
You pay more money for this specific service. Green SM targets a premium customer bracket in India. The minimum charge for a ride sits between Rs 350 and Rs 400. That equals roughly double the price of a standard Uber XL trip. The company must offer a better experience to justify the higher cost. Customers expect absolute perfection at that exact price point.
The Green SM app looks completely different. The interface prioritizes exact pickup locations. You pin your exact spot on the map, the driver sees a photograph of the building entrance. This stops the endless phone calls trying to find each other. The app processes payments through standard UPI platforms. It accepts major credit cards directly through the software.
Safety takes absolute priority in the Limo Green fleet. The factory installs a dashcam in every single car. A separate cabin camera records the interior during the entire trip. The exterior system monitors the road ahead constantly. It detects pedestrians and other vehicles, it alerts the driver to potential collision emergencies. The interior camera provides security for both the driver and the passenger. You know the trip is recorded, the driver knows it too. This changes human behavior instantly. It prevents arguments and unsafe driving practices.
Cars occasionally break down on the road. An electric motor might fail unexpectedly. A tire might go flat on a bad stretch of road. If your Green SM cab stops working, the company guarantees you will reach your destination. The control center will dispatch another vehicle immediately. They send it straight to your exact GPS location. If no company cars are nearby, the driver receives special training. They will book a cab from a rival service. They will pay for an Ola out of their own pocket. You do not wait stranded on the side of the road. You get where you need to go safely.
Filling the Premium EV Taxi Gap
The premium electric taxi segment in India saw massive changes recently. BluSmart previously operated heavily in this specific space. They built a strong customer base in Delhi and Bengaluru. People liked their clean cars, they appreciated the strict zero-cancellation policy. BluSmart then faced severe financial problems. They suspended their operations entirely, they left a massive hole in the market.
Green SM enters the market at the perfect time. They fill the empty space BluSmart left behind. The main difference lies in the financial backing. Most taxi startups rely heavily on outside venture capital money. They burn through cash rapidly. They try to gain market share at any possible cost. Green SM is funded directly by Vingroup. Vingroup is the largest private conglomerate in all of Vietnam. They have massive financial resources available to them. They manufacture the actual cars in their own factories. They run the taxi service software internally. They control the entire supply chain from start to finish.
How the Driver Partnership Works
The company treats drivers differently than traditional ride-hailing aggregators. Drivers join as working partners. A driver needs a valid commercial license to apply. That license must be at least one year old. They must pass thorough background checks, they submit police clearance certificates. They hand over their Aadhar cards and PAN cards before driving.
The financial arrangement is very straightforward for the driver. A driver deposits Rs 20,000 to join the platform. They pay Rs 5,000 upfront on day one. The company deducts the remaining Rs 15,000 in small daily installments. They take Rs 150 per day for 100 straight days. This structure makes it easy for drivers to start working. They do not need a massive initial cash investment. They do not need to take out a high-interest loan. They just need a small deposit, they need a perfectly clean driving record.
The drivers gets specific training from the company. They complete this before taking their first paying passenger. This training goes far beyond basic customer service rules. Green SM uses these taxis as a literal marketing tool. Every passenger is a potential car buyer for the brand. VinFast wants to sell thousands of cars in India. Most Indian consumers have never heard of the brand. They have never sat inside one of their vehicles.
The taxi service changes that problem entirely. You book a ride, you sit in the Limo Green for an hour. You feel the cold air conditioning, you experience the smooth ride quality. The driver explains the features of the car to you. The driver acts as a direct sales representative. If you like the taxi, you might visit a VinFast dealership later. You might buy the consumer VF MPV 7 for your own family. The taxi fleet builds physical brand awareness quickly. It works much faster than expensive television advertising campaigns.
Future Expansion with Smaller Vehicles
The Limo Green is just the starting point for India. The company plans to add other models to the fleet later. They are actively considering the VinFast VF5. The VF5 is a smaller electric hatchback model. It costs much less to manufacture in the factory. It uses a smaller battery pack, it fits perfectly in tight city streets.
A smaller car allows them to navigate narrow alleys easily. It can turn around in very tight spaces. The MPV would get stuck in those exact same spots. If Green SM adds the VF5, they can serve a different customer. They can target the solo commuter going to the metro station. They can pick up the college student heading to class. The pricing for the VF5 rides would be much lower. They could compete directly with the standard Ola Mini category. For now, they focus entirely on the premium seven-seat market. They want to establish a solid reputation for quality first. They will chase high volume later down the line.
The Overall Electric Mobility Plan
Vingroup established the Green and Smart Mobility division in 2023. The founder is Pham Nhat Vuong. He wanted to create a massive electric transport network. They already operate successfully in Vietnam and Malaysia. They run cars in Laos and the Philippines. India represents their fifth international market expansion.
The raw scale of the Indian market dwarfs their other operations. The Delhi-NCR area alone has a population exceeding 30 million people. The demand for reliable daily transportation never stops growing. The national government actively pushes for electric vehicle adoption. They offer specific tax incentives for electric fleet operators, they want to reduce urban pollution.
Other automakers already operate in this commercial space. Tata Motors supplies thousands of electric sedans to various fleet operators. Hyundai and Toyota sell specific variants of their cars for taxi use. Maruti Suzuki dominates the entry-level fleet market. They flood the streets with cheap CNG vehicles. VinFast joins a very crowded field. Their distinct advantage is total control over the process. They do not rely on third-party fleet operators. They manage the maintenance schedules internally, they control the charging networks. They set all the operational rules.
What to Know Before Launch Day
The launch date approaches rapidly. The initial batch of 1,000 cars sits ready in local depots. The drivers are finishing their final training programs right now. Engineers tested the mobile application thoroughly. On June 5, those bright cyan cars will hit the streets of Delhi.
Here are the facts you need to know before booking your first ride:
- The service operates 24 hours a day.
- The booking system is completely separate from Ola and Uber.
- You must download the dedicated Green SM application.
- The initial service area is restricted entirely to Delhi-NCR.
- Fares are higher than standard budget cabs.
- Every single ride includes mandatory dashcam recording.
- The company guarantees trip completion if the vehicle breaks down.
The Indian consumer benefits directly from this new competition. More companies entering the market means better overall service for everyone. It forces the older existing players to improve their standards. You do not have to accept canceled rides. You do not have to tolerate broken air conditioners anymore. You have new options, Green SM provides a completely different alternative.
You can expect a clean car when it arrives. You get a fully trained driver, you ride in a quiet electric vehicle. The air in the city remains a little cleaner. No exhaust fumes leave the tailpipe of these cars. The financial success of this early service will determine their next steps. They will decide how fast they expand to Mumbai and Bengaluru. The company has the money, they have the cars ready. Now they just need the actual passengers to book rides. June 5 will show the exact reality of the market. Delhi commuters will decide if they will pay a premium price. They must decide if a reliable ride is worth the extra money.
