Bengaluru taxi operators are against the entry of a Vietnamese private electric taxi aggregator into Karnataka

Headquarters of Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest company by market capitalization, in Hanoi, Vietnam. Vingroup’s electric taxi service, Green SM, has received approval from the Karnataka Transport Department to start app-based taxi operations across the state. | Photo credit: File photo

Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup’s electric taxi service, Green SM, has received approval from the Karnataka Transport Department to start app-based taxi operations across the state, sparking opposition from city taxi operators.

A transport department official confirmed that the company has been granted permission under the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016. The approval is valid till September 2031.

Organizations including the Karnataka Rajya Chalakara Parishath and the Peace Auto Union protested the move on Wednesday, saying the entry of another big aggregator could intensify competition and affect drivers’ earnings amid rising operating costs. They urged the government to reconsider and withdraw the permit.

K. Somashekar, president of the Karnataka Rajya Chalakara Parishath, questioned whether the vehicles passed the mandatory inspections. “All cabs must be equipped with fare meters, display boards and prescribed GPS devices,” he said, adding that any license issued without compliance should be revoked.

Published – 11 Nov 2026 22:32 IST