Lao people enjoy experiencing SM Green electric taxi

On November 9, 2023, the SM Green electric taxi service will officially launch in Laos. Previously, during the trial period, GSM's friendly and civilized cyan taxis scored points with the Lao people. A favorable start in the Land of a Million Elephants promises to be a launching pad for the made-in-Vietnam ride-hailing platform to quickly expand and conquer regional and international markets.

Also on this occasion, GSM launched the Xanh SM Laos application on the App Store and Play Store exclusively for the Lao market. Although the service is still in the testing phase, Xanh SM Laos has quickly risen to the top of the list of most downloaded free applications in the Travel category. This telling figure further proves the support and positive reception that Lao people have for the “game changer” from Vietnam.

Previously, GSM had completed the recruitment and training of personnel for Xanh SM Laos. The team of drivers is considered the representative face of the brand, and is also the key factor in determining the service quality of a carrier, so GSM pays special attention to it.

The similarities in Lao and Vietnamese culture make it easy for GSM to bring its 5-star service standards to customers in its first international market. “I have been driving a taxi for many years, but electric cars with many smart features give me a completely different experience. In particular, Xanh SM's civilized, customer-centric service standards are the reason that convinced me to join GSM even though it is a completely new company in Laos,” driver Sisomphone Mounthalay confidently shared.

The appearance of cyan cars on the streets has made a strong impression on the people of Vientiane. As the first pure electric taxi company in Laos, Xanh SM is not only a breath of fresh air but also opens a trend of civilized and environmentally friendly transportation in the land of myriads.

Mr. Phuivilavong (28 years old), a former Laotian student in Vietnam, said: “The green color of the car is very prominent, creating a sense of friendliness and trust for users while representing a youthful, dynamic, and trend-leading spirit. A few months ago, I was impressed with the birth of the first pure electric taxi company in Vietnam, but I didn't think SM Green Taxi would come to Laos so soon. I'm really excited to use this new service.”

After less than a month of “entering the country”, the rookie Xanh SM has quickly marked its presence with the largest charging station system in Vientiane, ready to meet the needs of drivers. With investment in a synchronous infrastructure system, the world-class electric cars under the VinFast brand of Xanh SM promise to bring a completely different and new travel experience to local customers.

5-star service quality is identified as an advantage of Xanh SM when "going abroad". In Vietnam, Xanh SM made a strong impression when it first brought customers the experience of taking a taxi like taking a private car. This secret "weapon" helped Xanh SM quickly conquer the market with a record of 6 million customers after only 5 months of launching.

“Lao people highly value the culture of greeting, both through gestures and words. Xanh SM seems to understand this psychological characteristic very well. That gives customers like me a feeling of closeness, friendliness and after going once, I want to go many more times” , Ms. Chanthavong (32 years old), an office worker, shared after her first experience with Xanh SM taxi.

It is expected that Xanh SM Taxi service will officially launch in Laos from November 9. Choosing Laos as the first destination in the internationalization strategy is considered a wise decision of Xanh SM because the market of nearly ten million people currently has only 2 ride-hailing platforms. The large potential of the Lao market will help Xanh SM quickly make its mark, and at the same time become a favorable stepping stone for the company to become a new "force" in the ride-hailing field in Southeast Asia.

Lao media assessed that GSM chose the right time to enter the market in this country. Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines Thongphat Inthavong said that Lao people started using electric vehicles more after the fuel shortage in 2022. To reduce dependence on fossil fuels, the Lao government aims to have electric vehicles account for at least 1% of the total number of vehicles in circulation by 2025 and reach a minimum of 30% by 2030. In the photo, an SM Green taxi passes by the Lao Presidential Palace in the capital Vientiane.

The appearance of Xanh SM is expected to create a boost for the green transportation revolution in the Land of a Million Elephants. According to GSM, the company's fleet size in Laos can be up to 1,000 VF 5 Plus and VF e34 vehicles. In the short term, the company will "enter the market" with electric taxi services. In the long term, GSM will fully develop a service ecosystem in Laos similar to that in Vietnam, including: electric car rental, package car booking service, tourist car booking, personalized car booking and other B2B services...

“Lao people are very open to electric vehicles. GSM’s diverse services give the company an overwhelming advantage in dominating the Lao market,” said Nguyen, a Vietnamese expatriate living in Vientiane.

After Laos, GSM plans to continue to bring made-in-Vietnam electric taxi services to other markets in Southeast Asia. Experts say that with the rise of electric vehicles, the Net Zero target of governments, and its own advantages, GSM has great potential to “redraw” the ride-hailing market in the region.

Vietnam.vn