Green SM, a Vietnam-based ride-hailing company, launched a fleet of 500 VinFast VF8 electric vehicles in Los Angeles this week, marking its first operation in the United States, according to Car and Driver. The service enters a market dominated by Uber and Lyft with a different business approach: it owns its own vehicles and employs full-time drivers rather than relying on gig workers using personal cars.
The launch puts VinFast, the top-selling automaker in Vietnam, into direct view of American riders at a time when the company has struggled to build a customer base in the United States since it debuted here in 2023.
Green SM VinFast Fleet Details
Green SM trained 500 full-time drivers to operate its new Los Angeles fleet, all of them behind the wheel of the five-seat VinFast VF8, an electric vehicle that produces zero emissions, Car and Driver reported. The vehicles are painted a distinctive cyan color, making them visually identifiable on the road.
Unlike Uber and Lyft, which depend on independent contractors driving their own vehicles, Green SM owns every car in its fleet and hires drivers directly as employees. That model mirrors how the company has operated in its existing markets rather than the app-based gig system that built Uber and Lyft into dominant U.S. players.
What It Means For Riders And Competitors
For Los Angeles riders, the Green SM launch introduces an all-electric ride-hailing option built entirely around the VinFast VF8, a vehicle most Americans have likely never ridden in. VinFast has had a difficult time establishing itself in the United States, with only 389 of its vehicles registered nationwide between January and July of 2026.
Putting 500 VF8s into daily ride-hailing use gives the automaker far more exposure than its retail sales have generated so far. Every ride becomes a test drive of sorts for a brand still trying to find its footing with American consumers.
Green SM’s Track Record Abroad
While Los Angeles marks Green SM’s first U.S. market, the company is not new to the ride-hailing business. It has logged 850 million rides across parts of Europe and Asia, giving it operational experience that predates its American debut.
That history suggests a company accustomed to running fleet-owned, employee-driver operations at scale, a contrast to the model Uber and Lyft popularized in the U.S. over the past decade.
What’s Next
The 500-vehicle Los Angeles fleet represents Green SM’s opening move in the U.S. market. Car and Driver’s report did not detail pricing, app features, specific service areas within Los Angeles or any timeline for expanding the fleet beyond its initial 500 vehicles. Riders in the city can expect more details on booking and coverage to emerge as the service settles into operation.
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