Vietnamese Conglomerate Vingroup’s Electric Taxi Gets Karnataka Licence
Green SM, the electric taxi arm of Vietnam's Vingroup, has received a Karnataka aggregator licence valid until September 2031. Taxi unions in Bengaluru are protesting its entry, saying another large player could squeeze driver earnings, and have asked the state to review the licence.
Green SM, the electric taxi service of Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup's electric vehicle business, has received a licence from the Karnataka Transport Department to run app-based cab services in the Indian state, according to a report dated November 11, 2026. The licence clears the way for its entry into Bengaluru's ride-hailing market, which Rapido, Namma Yatri and Uber currently dominate.
Transport department officials said the licence was issued under the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016. It is valid until September 2031.
Unions demand review
Taxi unions, including Karnataka Rajya Chalakara Parishath and Peace Auto Union, are protesting. They say another large operator could further squeeze drivers' earnings at a time of rising operating costs. They want the state government to review and revoke the licence.
K Somashekar, president of Karnataka Rajya Chalakara Parishath, questioned how the licence was granted. He said the vehicles had not been inspected, although all 100 cabs must have fare meters, display boards and GPS fittings. "If licences have been issued in violation of the rules, they should be cancelled," he said.
The association also alleges that about 5,000 electric cabs have been brought to Bengaluru and parked at sites including Kengeri and Electronics City. Vingroup was unavailable for comment.
What Green SM offers
Green SM is Vingroup's mobility arm. It owns its fleet and deploys its own drivers. Vingroup also owns electric vehicle maker VinFast, which runs a manufacturing plant in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.
The company entered India in June 2026 with its Green SM Limo service in Delhi-NCR and has since expanded to cities including Hyderabad. It operates the VinFast Limo Green, a seven-seater electric multi-purpose vehicle, and is offering fares of around Rs 8 per km.
The launch follows the abrupt exit of all-electric cab operator BluSmart, which reopened competition in the market. Green SM says its rides will have trained drivers, in-cabin and exterior cameras, AI-powered technology and emergency assistance buttons. Customers can book through its app or hotline, or hail cabs in operational areas.
Karnataka's fare rules
Karnataka introduced a uniform fare structure for app-based cabs in 2024, based on vehicle prices. For vehicles costing up to Rs 10 lakh, the base fare is Rs 100 for the first 4 km, then Rs 24 per additional kilometre.
Vehicles priced between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh carry a base fare of Rs 115 and Rs 28 per extra kilometre. Above Rs 15 lakh, the base fare is Rs 130 and Rs 32 per extra kilometre. The order also bars aggregators from charging surge pricing.
