On 8/10, Grab introduced GrabCar Xe Dien, an electric vehicle ride-hailing option, to its Hanoi services. The platform stated that passengers would be picked up by either pure electric or hybrid vehicles.

Nguyen Hanh Linh, Director of Mobility at Grab Vietnam, explained the decision aims to expand Grab's user base, optimize the customer experience, and promote the use of environmentally friendly transport. She added, "The new service will diversify income opportunities for driver-partners, making them more confident in transitioning to electric vehicles." Grab plans to expand this service to TP HCM soon after its Hanoi launch.

An electric vehicle operating for Grab. *Company photo*

Vietnam's ride-hailing market features three major platforms: Xanh SM, Grab, and Be. Xanh SM exclusively offers passenger transport using VinFast electric vehicles. Previously, Grab and Be users lacked a dedicated electric vehicle option. Passengers on these platforms were randomly picked up by VinFast or BYD electric vehicles before the new service launched on 8/10.

Grab stated that the electric vehicle ride-hailing pilot builds on the positive growth of electric vehicles operating on its platform, driven by recent policies encouraging drivers to switch.

The "e-Conomy SEA 2024" report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company estimates Vietnam's ride-hailing and food delivery market will reach 4 billion USD in 2024 and could grow to 9 billion USD by 2030.

A survey released in May by Japanese market research firm Rakuten Insight found that 87% of users chose Grab and Xanh SM for ride-hailing services. Grab was selected by 55% of users in major cities and 54% in other areas, while Xanh SM ranked second with 32%. Be accounted for 9% of the market.

Conversely, a report by Indian market research firm Mordor Intelligence indicated that Xanh SM had become the market leader in Vietnam's ride-hailing taxi sector as of Q4/2024. The all-electric ride-hailing platform maintained this position, holding 44,68% market share by Q2/2025. However, in early september, Grab Vietnam refuted Mordor Intelligence's data. Grab stated that the report "used unverifiable data sources and insufficient research methods, leading to inaccurate conclusions." Both Grab and Be confirmed they had never discussed or provided any business information, transaction data, or market assessments to Mordor Intelligence.

Vien Thong