Green SM launches 500 electric SUVs in Southern California with company-employed drivers and a fleet it owns.

Green SM has entered the U.S. market with a 500-vehicle electric fleet in Los Angeles, introducing a ride-hailing model built around company-owned cars and full-time drivers. The Vietnamese company is betting that consistent service and an employment-based workforce can help it stand out in a market dominated by Uber and Lyft.

Green SM launches its U.S. ride-hailing service with a fleet of 500 VinFast VF 8 electric SUVs.

A Fleet Built Around the VinFast VF 8

Every vehicle in Green SM’s initial Los Angeles fleet is a five-seat VinFast VF 8 electric SUV. The company says its vehicles are operating across Los Angeles County and extending into Orange County.

Customers can request rides through the Green SM app, call the company’s hotline or hail a vehicle on the street. Fares depend on time and distance, while the company is promoting discounted rides to attract new customers.

The VF 8 serves as Green SM’s primary vehicle for its Los Angeles operations.

Company Drivers Instead of Gig Workers

Green SM’s main distinction is its employment model. The company owns its vehicles and employs its drivers, providing training, maintenance and scheduled shifts rather than relying on independent contractors using their own cars.

The approach is designed to create a more consistent service experience. Drivers complete a selection and onboarding process before beginning work, while the company manages the vehicles and their upkeep.

Green SM employs its drivers directly and manages the vehicles used for its ride-hailing service.

Discounts for Early Customers

Green SM is offering new customers 50% off their first five rides, with a maximum discount of $12 per trip. Its Green Pass membership also includes 10 monthly vouchers offering 30% off, capped at $10 per ride.

The company has also identified airport transfers as a potential service. However, the arrangements and timing for operations at Los Angeles International Airport have not been publicly detailed.

The VF 8’s cabin provides the passenger space used for Green SM’s ride-hailing trips.

Green SM Enters a Competitive Market

Los Angeles is Green SM’s first U.S. market. The business began in Vietnam in 2023 and has since expanded into other international markets.

Its arrival adds another competitor to Southern California’s evolving transportation sector, where conventional ride-hailing companies and autonomous vehicle services are expanding their presence. Green SM’s strategy centers on combining electric vehicles with company-managed operations rather than relying on a gig-based workforce.

Green SM is entering a competitive market as electric and autonomous transportation services continue to expand.

The company’s long-term prospects will depend on customer demand, service reliability and its ability to expand beyond its initial fleet. For now, its Los Angeles launch offers a different approach to electric ride-hailing in the United States.

Green and Smart Mobility enters the U.S. market with an all-electric taxi and ride-hailing service.

GSM Expands Into the United States

Los Angeles is GSM’s first U.S. market and its ninth country of operation. Before entering the United States, the company operated in Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Kazakhstan, Denmark and the Netherlands.

The launch gives GSM a presence in North America as it pursues a broader international expansion strategy. Its all-electric fleet also connects the company’s growth to the development of electric mobility services, particularly in major cities where taxis and ride-hailing vehicles can accumulate substantial daily mileage.

GSM is expanding its all-electric mobility business into the United States with its launch in Los Angeles.

The scale of the company’s U.S. operation, including its initial fleet size, service coverage and passenger pricing, will be important factors in determining how quickly it can establish a presence in the local market.

VinFast Connection and Electric Vehicle Strategy

GSM is closely linked to VinFast, the Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer. The taxi operator has previously said it intends to purchase up to one million VinFast electric vehicles between 2026 and 2030, a target that would make fleet demand a significant part of its relationship with the automaker.

The planned purchases could support VinFast by creating a large potential source of demand for its vehicles. For GSM, meanwhile, using electric vehicles across its mobility operations aligns its fleet strategy with its focus on all-electric transportation.

VinFast is the vehicle supplier connected to GSM’s plans for expanding its electric mobility fleet.

However, the stated purchase target is a multi-year intention rather than confirmation that all the vehicles have already been ordered or delivered. The pace of deployment will depend on the company’s expansion plans and the operational requirements of each market.

GSM’s International Expansion Plans

The Los Angeles launch forms part of a wider international growth strategy. GSM has previously outlined plans to deploy fleets in the United States and Sweden, as well as expand its presence in the Netherlands. The company has also indicated that it wants to enter additional European markets in 2027.

Its U.S. entry is therefore one part of a larger effort to build an international electric mobility business. Expanding across multiple markets could increase the company’s operating scale, although each country presents different regulatory requirements, competitive conditions and customer expectations.

GSM is seeking to expand its electric taxi operations beyond its established Asian and European markets.

The company’s financial scale is another area of interest as it prepares for a potential Hong Kong stock market listing. GSM has been preparing for a possible pre-IPO phase, while previous valuation discussions have placed the business at approximately $20 billion, based on advice reportedly received by the company.

Vietnamese brokerage VNDirect estimated that GSM generated approximately $1 billion in gross merchandise value in 2025. Gross merchandise value represents the total value of transactions facilitated through a business and should not be confused with revenue or profit. GSM does not publicly disclose detailed financial results.

What the Los Angeles Launch Means for GSM

GSM’s entry into Los Angeles establishes its first North American operation and expands its international footprint to nine markets. The company’s strategy combines electric vehicle deployment, ride-hailing services and an existing relationship with VinFast.

The next indicators to watch will include fleet expansion, geographic coverage, passenger demand and the company’s ability to compete with established ride-hailing operators. Its potential listing in Hong Kong could also become an important milestone as it seeks to finance and scale its international business.

For now, the Los Angeles launch marks a significant geographic expansion for GSM. Its longer-term success will depend on how effectively it translates its experience in other markets into a competitive U.S. operation.

DeLorean will represent the United States in the Airspeeder electric aircraft racing series.

DeLorean Motor Company is entering electric aircraft racing as the constructor behind the U.S. team in the Airspeeder International Series. The program begins in November 2026, with DeLorean initially competing using a standardized electric racing aircraft before developing its own design for the 2027-28 season.

DeLorean Joins the Airspeeder International Series

DeLorean announced its entry at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, marking a new direction for a brand best known for its iconic stainless-steel sports car. Rather than launching another conventional road vehicle, the company is joining a racing championship built around electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, known as eVTOLs.

The DeLorean Airspeeder Team will represent the United States when the 2026-27 season begins in November. It will compete against national teams from other countries in a series designed to explore the possibilities of high-performance electric flight.

Airspeeder races use three-dimensional courses marked by virtual gates instead of conventional painted track boundaries. Pilots navigate these courses using onboard sensors and collision-avoidance technology designed to help manage the risks of high-speed competition.

The championship was created by Australian entrepreneur Matt Pearson, who sees racing as a way to develop and demonstrate emerging electric aviation technology. For DeLorean, the partnership also offers an opportunity to expand its brand into a new category of motorsport.

The Airspeeder International Series brings electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft into competitive racing.

DeLorean Will Race the Standardized Mk3C First

For its debut season, the DeLorean Airspeeder Team will compete with the standardized Airspeeder Mk3C. The aircraft uses the series’ established technical platform, allowing DeLorean to enter the championship without immediately developing a completely new racing machine.

During this initial phase, DeLorean’s primary responsibility will be the team’s branding and visual identity rather than the core engineering of the aircraft. This arrangement gives the company time to learn from competition before moving toward a more independent technical program.

The standardized approach also provides a common starting point for the championship’s competitors. It allows the series to focus on racing while giving participating constructors an opportunity to develop their own designs in subsequent seasons.

The pilot lineup, detailed aircraft specifications and complete sporting program for DeLorean’s debut remain to be announced.

DeLorean Plans Its Own Electric Racing Aircraft for 2027-28

The longer-term ambition is to move beyond the standardized aircraft. Starting with the 2027-28 season, DeLorean plans to develop its own racing aircraft in collaboration with engineering students from the University of California, Berkeley, and Georgia Institute of Technology.

The academic partnerships are expected to contribute engineering knowledge and design analysis to the development process. However, the final aircraft configuration, performance targets and technical specifications have not yet been disclosed.

DeLorean plans to develop a dedicated racing aircraft after its first season using the standardized Mk3C.

The project could give DeLorean a more substantial role in electric aviation by moving from team branding toward aircraft development. That transition will depend on engineering progress, testing, regulatory requirements and the series’ technical framework.

DeLorean has also highlighted the importance of safety standards and regulatory compliance. Chief brand officer Cameron Wynne described the program as an opportunity to contribute to the frameworks needed for advanced air mobility, alongside the development of flight technology.

Why DeLorean Is Expanding Beyond Road Cars

The Airspeeder partnership reflects an effort to broaden DeLorean’s identity beyond its best-known vehicle. The original DeLorean sports car became a cultural icon, while the company’s more recent reinvention has sought to establish a wider presence in modern automotive and mobility technology.

Electric aircraft racing provides a different platform for that ambition. It connects the brand with electric propulsion, advanced engineering and a motorsport audience interested in emerging forms of transportation.

The partnership does not, however, establish that DeLorean is developing a consumer flying car. The announced program concerns competitive electric aircraft, and the company has not confirmed plans to sell a road-and-air vehicle to the public.

The new racing program gives DeLorean a presence in electric aviation without confirming a consumer flying-car project.