Vietnam’s richest man launches electric taxi firm
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Pham Nhat Vuong, Vietnam’s richest man, has established GSM, an all-electric taxi operator with a charter capital of VND3 trillion ($126.85 million). Vuong, who is also the chairman of Vingroup, owns a 95% stake in the company.
GSM, which stands for “Green, Smart and Mobility,” will launch its taxi services starting in April in Hanoi, with plans to go nationwide by the end of the year.
The company will also rent Vinfast’s VF e34 and VF 8 electric cars to transport companies.
GSM expects to have 10,000 cars and 100,000 motorbikes, all made by VinFast, a unit of Vingroup.
The company was established to speed up the completion of Vietnam’s green ecosystem and smart transport, said GSM CEO Nguyen Van Thanh.
Customers can experience electric vehicles, whether for a few minutes in a taxi, or a few months in a rented car, which Thanh says will help speed up the green revolution in Vietnam.
Last year, VinFast delivered 7,200 electric cars to Vietnamese customers. And in December last year its two models, the VF e34 and VF 8, were among the top 10 best-selling models in Vietnam.
The company delivered its first electric cars to American customers on March 2.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the initial capital investment in GSM and who is the primary owner?
What is the initial capital investment in GSM and who is the primary owner?
GSM was established with a charter capital of VND3 trillion, which equates to $126.85 million. Pham Nhat Vuong, Vietnam’s richest man and chairman of Vingroup, owns a 95% stake in the newly formed company.
Q.When and where will GSM's taxi services first become available to customers?
When and where will GSM's taxi services first become available to customers?
GSM plans to launch its electric taxi services starting in April. The initial rollout will take place in Hanoi, with the company aiming to expand its operations to cover the entire nation by the end of the current year.
Q.Besides taxi services, what other offerings will GSM provide to consumers and businesses?
Besides taxi services, what other offerings will GSM provide to consumers and businesses?
In addition to operating its own electric taxi services, GSM will rent out electric cars. The company plans to lease Vinfast's VF e34 and VF 8 models to transport companies and individuals seeking longer-term electric vehicle experience.
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