Private transport associations urge Karnataka government to cap Vietnamese electric taxi aggregator’s fleet

The headquarters of Vingroup, in Hanoi, Vietnam. The federation expressed concern over media reports that Green SM was offering fares starting at around ₹8 a km.

The Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Associations has urged the State government to restrict Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup’s electric cab service, Green SM, to a fleet of 100 vehicles in Bengaluru, citing concerns over the livelihood of thousands of independent taxi and auto-rickshaw operators.

In a letter to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, the federation sought immediate intervention to prevent what it described as unfair competition from the electric taxi fleet operated by Green SM.

The federation said individual taxi drivers, who largely depend on bank loans to purchase vehicles, would struggle to compete with a corporate-owned fleet backed by substantial financial resources. It also expressed concern over media reports that Green SM was offering fares starting at around ₹8 a km, saying such pricing could make it difficult for independent operators to sustain their businesses.

The federation has sought a compliance audit of Green SM’s aggregator licence, fleet size, vehicle permits and fare mechanisms. It has also urged the government to refer the matter to the Competition Commission of India if below-cost pricing is established.