The VinFast Effect: How Green Revolution is Transforming the Transport Industry

The “King” of Ride-Hailing Services

“Anyone who buys the Limo Green 7-seater, expectedly priced at 749 million VND and holds on to it… will break even in 27 months,” wrote Đỗ Minh Hồ Hải (Car Passion) on his personal page about one of the four models from the VinFast Green line that GSM will soon start taking deposits for.

VinFast Green has been the hottest topic in the electric vehicle community since GSM officially announced it would take deposits for four models dedicated to transportation services: Minio Green, Herio Green, Nerio Green, and Limo Green, starting March 17.

Accordingly, the smallest model, Minio Green – a brand-new product from VinFast – is priced at only 269 million VND. Herio Green and Nerio Green, optimized from VF 5 and VF e34, are priced at 499 million VND and 668 million VND, respectively. Meanwhile, the Limo Green – VinFast’s first 7-seater MPV and the hottest name in this line-up, is priced at 749 million VND.

These prices are considered competitive compared to other ride-hailing vehicles in the market. Especially, if customers make an early deposit for the car through GSM from March 17 to March 24, they will receive a discount of 5 million VND for the Minio Green, 10 million VND for the Herio Green and Nerio Green, and 15 million VND for the Limo Green.

Mr. Nguyễn Mạnh Thắng, a car expert from WhatcarVN, calculated that with these discounts, the maximum price of these vehicles would be 734 million VND. Meanwhile, car owners will enjoy free charging until June 30, 2027, and a revenue-sharing policy of up to 90% fixed for three years when participating in transportation operations on the Xanh SM Platform in 2025.

“If the owner can make 1 million VND per day, they will recoup the cost of the car in about 27 months. During this time, they will mostly be earning, not spending, because the most significant expense, charging, is free,” said Mr. Thắng, using the example of the 7-seater Limo Green MPV.

Comparing it to a Mitsubishi Xpander, Mr. Thắng argued that the total cost of buying a car and fueling it for two years would amount to nearly 1.1 billion VND. If we consider the revenue, the Limo Green is clearly more cost-effective, and the car is more spacious and can practically generate better revenue.

On many forums, customers have quickly presented the economic calculations for the Green line. With the smallest Minio Green, an average daily revenue of 700,000 VND could help owners break even in about 15 months. For the Herio and Nerio, it would take about 23-26 months to break even, with an average daily revenue of about 1 million VND. In reality, this revenue target is achievable for many drivers. Many VF 5 owners who previously provided ride-hailing services achieved this goal in just over a year.

The “3 Goods” Solution for Greener Transportation

According to experts, from a macro perspective, the introduction of VinFast Green will be a turning point, giving a new face to transportation services in Vietnam.

Dr. Trần Hồng Phúc, an expert in urban transportation solutions, believes that the trend of electric vehicles greening transportation services is gaining momentum. Anyone can see this reality when they go out on the streets, as, besides Xanh SM, many taxi companies have switched to VinFast electric vehicles in many provinces and cities nationwide. Consumers can also easily find many electric vehicle owners participating in the ride-hailing market through the Xanh SM Platform.

“Electric vehicles have proven their ability to maximize profits and improve service quality. What the market needs is a wider range of electric vehicle options for ride-hailing services, and VinFast Green has arrived at the right time,” said the expert.

He gave the example of 7-seater transportation services, which have a significant market share but limited choices and no energy-saving options like electric vehicles. Or, for small cars, this would be a suitable choice for customers in urban areas who want a modern mobility solution with the most cost-effective option. The four VinFast Green models, with a full range of segments, have filled the gaps in these demands.

In addition, the expert also appreciated the preferential policies that help drivers ensure better revenue, such as free charging, increasing the revenue-sharing rate to up to 90% for drivers, while other platforms usually allow drivers to keep only about 70-75% of the revenue. According to him, for those buying cars for ride-hailing services, fuel costs and platform fees are usually the most significant monthly expenses, so this policy is particularly beneficial.

“VinFast and GSM are bringing the ‘3 Goods’ solution to drivers: Good Car, Good Price, Good Policy,” he concluded.

Dr. Phúc believes that with competitive prices, attractive support policies, and the ability to meet various needs, VinFast Green is not just an ordinary electric vehicle line but also an essential boost to make electric vehicles more popular in the transportation service industry and transportation in general.

“I believe there will be a storm of electric vehicles as taxi, transportation, and individual businesses providing ride-hailing services will increasingly choose electric vehicles. Vietnam can certainly expect a greener transportation future stronger than ever,” shared Dr. Trần Hồng Phúc.

TH (Tuoitrethudo)