Vietnam's Be Group in deal to become country's first ride-hailing firm to use EVs
21/03/2023 08:23
HANOI, March 21 (Reuters) - Vietnam's Be Group said on
Tuesday it has signed an agreement with an electric vehicle
leasing service that will make it the first ride-hailing firm in
the country to use EVs.
Be, a homegrown platform with nearly 10 million customers,
and GSM, founded by the owner of Vietnamese EV maker VinFast,
will work with Vietnam Prosperity Bank VPB.HM to allow drivers
to switch away from combustion engine vehicles at "affordable
prices", Be said in a statement.
Vietnam is promoting the production and mass use of EVs as
part of efforts to achieve carbon emission neutrality by 2050.
There are currently about 7,800 electric vehicles on its roads,
according to Vinfast.
GSM, which was founded by chairman of VinFast parent
Vingroup VIC.HM and Vietnam's richest man, Pham Nhat Vuong, is
scheduled to commence electric car and motorcycle leasing
services from April.
Its tie-up with Be will include a direct investment into the
ride-hailing firm, the statement said without providing an
amount.
(Reporting by Khanh Vu; Additional reporting by Phuong Nguyen;
Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor)
((khanh.vu@thomsonreuters.com; +84 24 38259623;))