Vinfast EV Taxis Now in Manila - CleanTechnica

Vietnamese company Green & Smart Mobility (GSM), founded by VinFast CEO Pham Nhat Vuong, has launched a fleet of VinFast VF e34 electric taxis in Manila, marking the Philippines as the fourth Southeast Asian country to receive these EV taxis after Vietnam, Laos, and Indonesia. GSM aims to improve the local taxi industry's poor reputation, which suffers from old vehicles, unsafe conditions, and corrupt drivers. The company employs drivers as full-time staff with fixed salaries and incentives, rather than the traditional commission-based system, and offers an app for easy booking alongside street hails. GSM also partners with Manila’s largest taxi company, R&E Taxi, and has installed over 30 charging stations at R&E’s compound. The chosen vehicle, the VinFast VF e34, is a compact electric SUV with a 41.9 kWh battery, delivering 147 hp and a 197-mile (318 km) range, suitable for up to 10 hours of continuous driving in Manila. It features advanced safety equipment including six airbags, ABS with EBD, vehicle stability control, and a 360-degree camera system. GSM taxis are painted in a distinctive “Nerio Green” color. A standout feature is the S2S (Secure to Safe) AI-powered monitoring system developed by VinAI, which uses interior and exterior cameras to detect threats or emergencies, especially during high-risk night hours, and alerts a 24/7 operations center. The system complies with Philippine data privacy laws by encrypting footage and deleting it after 48 hours. In summary, GSM’s introduction of VinFast electric taxis in Manila represents a significant effort to modernize and clean up the city’s taxi services through electric vehicles, improved driver conditions, advanced safety features, and AI-driven security monitoring. This initiative aligns with broader regional adoption of VinFast EV taxis and reflects a push toward eco-friendly, reliable, and safer urban transportation in the Philippines.