The GSM (Green-Smart-Mobility) Joint Stock Company, the first taxi service using electric cars in Viet Nam, launched its Xanh SM taxi service in Ha Noi on Friday.

VinFast, a member of the Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup, produces all EVs in Xanh SM's fleet.

The firm provides two kinds of service; the standard GreenCar, using VinFast VF e34s, and the high-end LuxuryCar, using VinFast VF 8.

The Xanh SM EV fleet comprises 500 VF e34 cars and 100 VF 8 cars in Ha Noi. In the future, it will add VinFast VF 5 Plus models to its GreenCar fleet.

Addressing the launching ceremony, Nguyen Manh Quyen, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Noi, said that taxi service using EVs is one of the advanced solutions that are expected to benefit the community, contribute to reducing air and noise pollution while saving energy and reducing costs for users.

The launching of the service demonstrates the city's determination to join hands with local firms in promoting sustainable transport and contributing to realising Viet Nam's commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

GSM General Director Nguyen Van Thanh highlighted the firm's interest in contributing to the country's climate change response efforts by reducing vehicle emissions. In addition, he said that the firm aims to form a green-smart travel ecosystem across Viet Nam.

From Friday, customers can order a Xanh SM taxi via its hotline at 19002088 or the Xanh SM taxi application available on the App Store and Google Play Store.

From May, customers can call Xanh SM taxi through the BeVinFast service on the multi-service consumer platform Be.

As scheduled, GSM will launch its taxi services in HCM City in April and will expand to at least five cities and provinces this year.

Regarding whether a large number of EV taxis going into operation will affect the urban traffic situation, a representative of the city's transport department said that public transport means must be prioritised to limit personal vehicles.

According to Tin tuc (News) newspaper, Ha Noi stopped licensing new petrol-powered taxis in 2013.

The capital city is now maintaining a stable taxi fleet of 19,000 vehicles, alongside 50,000 contract cars of under nine seats.

Statistics from the city's transport department revealed that the number of taxis is still well below the planned level, especially EVs and green public transport, according to the government's roadmap. — VNS