Vingroup's GSM to launch ride-hailing and electric motorcycle services

GSM, helmed by billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong – chairman of Vingroup, unveiled an ambitious objective on July 17: to extend its electric taxi services to 27 cities and provinces across Vietnam.

The announcement was made on GSM's official Facebook fan page, signifying the company's strategic intent to expand its presence in the transportation sector.

In addition to the taxi services, GSM's social media update unveiled plans for a new delivery and transportation service employing electric motorcycles within Vietnam. The company aims to draw more than 20,000 new drivers to meet the evolving needs of its customer base. However, specific timelines for these initiatives were not disclosed.

Last month, GSM's CEO Nguyen Van Thanh mused on the possibility of introducing ride-hailing services utilising electric motorcycles. Highlighting Vietnam's significant motorcycle ownership, which ranks second globally, with an estimated 42 million motorcycles (including those no longer in use), Thanh underscored the market's voracious appetite for motorcycles, predominantly fuelled by petrol.

Shifting towards electric motorcycles would effectively address pressing concerns such as air pollution, noise reduction, and cost efficiency, ultimately enhancing the overall customer experience. Contemplating the ramifications of this paradigm shift, Thanh posed the question: "Should GSM embark on a fully electric ride-hailing project?"

While an official response remains pending, Thanh took the initiative to announce a job opening for the position of director of Electric Motorcycle Operations (GreenBike/GreenExpress), underscoring the company's commitment to fortifying its operational capabilities in line with its green mobility endeavours.

According to GSM's website, the company has already implemented its electric taxi service in nine provinces and cities.

Recently, its distinctive cyan-coloured taxis made a notable debut in Hung Yen and, just one week later, in Ha Long City in Quang Ninh province. Impressively, the company achieved the significant milestone of completing one million trips within just 10 weeks of it its inception.

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