Green SM, the ride-hailing mobility company associated with Vietnamese automaker VinFast, launched its all-electric taxi service in Los Angeles on October 13, 2026, marking its first entry into the North American market. The service uses a fleet made up entirely of VinFast VF 8 electric SUVs, expanding the mobility brand’s operations to nine countries while introducing its vehicles to consumers across the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
The launch represents VinFast’s effort to establish a stronger presence in the competitive U.S. mobility market as the automaker faces challenges in its retail operations. Through Green SM, the company aims to provide emissions-free transportation while giving passengers an opportunity to experience its electric vehicles without purchasing one.
How Green SM’s Los Angeles Taxi Service Works
Green SM offers transportation for daily commutes, local errands and regional airport transfers. Customers can request rides through the company’s dedicated mobile application, call a telephone hotline or hail a vehicle on the street.
To attract new riders, the company is offering promotional discounts that cut the price of each customer’s first five trips by 50%. Green SM also provides a complimentary membership that gives regular commuters access to monthly discounted-fare transit vouchers.
The company plans to continue hiring local drivers and developing operational infrastructure tailored to the region’s transportation needs. Its broader goal is to promote green energy mobility solutions while expanding its presence in the Los Angeles market.
VinFast Expands in the U.S. Amid Retail Sales Challenges
Green SM’s entry into Los Angeles comes at a difficult time for VinFast’s retail business in the United States. Recent industry reports indicate that regional sales have fallen sharply, prompting the automaker to restructure its market approach.
Introducing the VF 8 through a subsidized taxi service provides another way for consumers to experience the vehicle. Rather than committing to a conventional purchase, passengers can ride in the electric SUV as part of their everyday transportation.
The strategy also gives VinFast an opportunity to increase its visibility on California roads. By operating its own ride-hailing service, the company can introduce its vehicles to potential customers outside the traditional dealership test-drive process.
VinFast continues to commit substantial operational capital to its international expansion, with its North American presence remaining a priority. Although Green SM’s current fleet consists entirely of midsize SUVs, VinFast also produces a tiny new electric vehicle that could potentially serve dense urban transportation needs if imported for commercial dispatch.
Why Green SM Is Using Ride-Hailing to Promote VinFast Vehicles
Operating a proprietary ride-hailing service gives an emerging automaker a way to introduce its vehicles to consumers who may be hesitant to purchase them. With passengers experiencing the VF 8 firsthand, VinFast can increase public exposure to its products without relying exclusively on conventional retail sales.
The approach places the company’s vehicles in everyday transportation settings, potentially helping more people become familiar with the brand. For VinFast, the service combines commercial mobility operations with an opportunity to build recognition among consumers in California.
However, running a commercial taxi fleet presents challenges that differ from those involved in manufacturing vehicles. Green SM must maintain consistent service standards, charging infrastructure and reliable vehicle performance to deliver a dependable transportation service and improve public perceptions of the brand.
What Green SM’s California Expansion Means for VinFast
Green SM’s Los Angeles launch gives VinFast a new way to introduce its electric vehicles to the U.S. market while building a local transportation operation. The service combines discounted rides, local driver recruitment and an all-electric fleet as the company works to establish its North American presence.
If the Los Angeles deployment proves successful, the model could provide a template for other foreign automakers seeking to enter the U.S. consumer market. For now, Green SM’s operations center on its VF 8 fleet and its effort to build a presence in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
