Green SM has launched a ride-hailing service in Los Angeles built around a fleet of 500 VinFast VF 8 electric vehicles, marking a direct challenge to the gig-economy model dominated by Uber and Lyft. The service relies on company-owned cars and full-time drivers rather than independent contractors, a structure the operator presents as a different way of running urban transport.
The VinFast VF 8 is an unfamiliar sight on American roads, and the Los Angeles deployment is intended to change that at scale. By putting hundreds of the Vietnamese manufacturer's electric SUVs into daily commercial service, Green SM is effectively combining a ride-hailing launch with a visible test of the vehicle in one of the world's most car-dependent cities.
The decision to employ drivers directly sets Green SM apart from the established platforms. Uber and Lyft built their businesses on flexible contractor arrangements, a model that has drawn years of legal and political scrutiny over pay, benefits and worker classification. Green SM's approach shifts the cost and responsibility of vehicles and labour onto the operator, which controls the fleet and the terms of work.
For VinFast, the Los Angeles fleet offers a route to American visibility that does not depend on retail sales. The company has been expanding internationally and seeking a foothold in the US market, where its brand recognition remains limited. A fleet of 500 vehicles operating across the city gives the VF 8 sustained public exposure and generates operational data on how the model performs in heavy urban use.
The launch also tests whether a fleet-owned model can compete on price and reliability in a market where customers are accustomed to app-based hailing with near-instant availability. Green SM will need to match the convenience of the incumbents while carrying the fixed costs of vehicle ownership, maintenance, charging and full-time staff.
Charging infrastructure is a practical consideration for any electric fleet of this size. Running 500 vehicles continuously requires dependable access to charging, and the economics of the service will depend in part on how efficiently the cars can be kept on the road rather than waiting at charge points.
Los Angeles has become a testing ground for new models of urban mobility, and the arrival of a company-owned electric fleet adds a further option for passengers alongside established ride-hailing apps and public transport. Whether the model proves viable at scale will depend on demand, utilisation rates and the cost of operating the vehicles over time.
Green SM's entry does not yet threaten the market position of Uber and Lyft, whose networks cover far more vehicles and cities. But the launch provides a concrete comparison between contractor-based and fleet-based ride-hailing, and its performance in Los Angeles will be watched by operators and regulators weighing how electric vehicles and employment models shape the future of urban transport.