Vingroup, ride hailer Be Group team up in electric vehicle-based service

GSM (Green-Smart-Mobility) JSC, the electric car and motorbike rental and taxi service arm under private conglomerate Vingroup, and ride hailer Be Group have partnered up to utilize electric vehicles in ride-hailing service.

Per the agreement signed on Tuesday, GSM will invest in Be Group to help the latter grow into a multi-service platform, support Be Group drivers switch to electric vehicles conveniently, and improve service qualities.

Initially, GSM will collaborate with VPBank to offer exclusive packages for Be Group drivers to purchase or hire electric vehicles with suitable costs.

Besides, ride-hailing users of Be Group can opt to pick GSM electric taxi, in addition to the current options of beCar and beTaxi.

The two sides eye to promote eco-friendly transportation, lead the green evolution in transportation in Vietnam, and prompt customers to utilize more eco-friendly vehicles.

GSM targets to start such services next month, aiming for 10,000 electric cars and 100,000 electric motorbikes. The firm has charter capital of VND3 trillion ($126.77 million), with Vingroup chairman Pham Nhat Vuong holding a 95% stake.

As the first electric taxi brand in Vietnam, GSM will go into operation in Hanoi next month, before expanding nationwide coverage this year.

The company is expected to supply the market with 10,000 electric cars and 100,000 electric motorbikes made by VinFast, a subsidiary of Vingroup.

Be app, launched by Be Group in 2019, has over 20 million downloads and currently serves over 10 million transactions monthly. It is providing services of transportation, food delivery, insurance, communications, and electronic bank Cake by VPBank.