Kazakhstan’s ride-hailing industry is preparing to welcome a new international competitor. Dozens of VinFast electric vehicles in Green SM’s signature turquoise livery have already been spotted on the streets of Almaty, while companies affiliated with the project have officially registered legal entities in the country. Together, these developments suggest that the service is in the final stages of preparation ahead of its launch.

Green SM is the mobility venture founded by Vietnamese billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong, the founder of Vietnam’s largest private conglomerate, Vingroup, and the VinFast electric vehicle brand. Launched in 2023, the company became the world’s first ride-hailing operator built entirely around a fleet of self-produced electric vehicles.

Today, Green SM operates in Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The company is now turning its attention to Central Asia, positioning Kazakhstan as a strategic hub for future regional expansion.

Preparations for the launch began earlier this year. In February, two companies were registered in Kazakhstan: Green and Smart Mobility Kazakhstan and Green and Smart Mobility Technologies Kazakhstan. The first focuses on passenger vehicle leasing, while the second operates in the IT sector. The structure suggests that Green SM is building not only a local vehicle fleet but also its own digital ecosystem to support operations in the market.

Vingroup first announced plans to enter Kazakhstan in the fall of 2025. At the time, the company discussed establishing a regional office in Almaty to serve CIS markets, expanding charging infrastructure, and launching a ride-hailing service based on VinFast electric vehicles.

Additional details emerged on June 1 during a presentation for prospective partners. Under the proposed model, drivers will be allowed to operate exclusively using leased VinFast vehicles. Personal vehicles will not be eligible for the platform.

Lease rates will range from 11,000 to 16,500 tenge per day, depending on the driver’s category. The system will include three partnership tiers, with advancement determined by compliance with the company’s internal quality and performance standards.

The platform’s commission rate has been set at 17%. Driver payouts are expected to be issued weekly during the initial phase, with plans to transition to daily payments later. A 1% fee will apply to withdrawals.

Another key feature of the model is the absence of intermediary taxi fleets. Drivers will be able to register as self-employed and work directly with the platform.

At the same time, Green SM will allow drivers to work with competing ride-hailing services. Drivers will be able to accept trips through Green SM, Yandex Go, and other platforms simultaneously. The company plans to use 2GIS as its navigation platform.

For passengers, Green SM is preparing a simplified pricing structure. Unlike many competitors that offer multiple ride categories, the company intends to launch with a single fare option.

While an official launch date has not yet been announced, the scale of the preparations, the development of local infrastructure, and the growing presence of branded vehicles on the streets of Almaty suggest that Green SM’s full-scale entry into the Kazakh market could happen in the near future.