VinFast’s ride-hailing arm Green SM takes on Jakarta’s ojek economy with e-scooters

Vingroup-backed ride-hailing company Green SM has launched an electric motorbike service in Jakarta, targeting the city's informal ojek economy that has been digitalized by Grab and Gojek over the past decade. Green SM's offering combines its existing electric-taxi fleet with electric scooters made by VinFast, providing a full-stack all-electric solution in a city where most short trips are still made by petrol-powered motorbikes.

The company is promoting the launch with discounts, offering up to 75% off for the first ride and 25% off subsequent rides, with a maximum of IDR10,000 (around US$0.56) per trip for the first 22 days. For drivers, Green SM offers a rent-to-own plan with guaranteed earnings of up to IDR160,000 (US$8.94) per day, or flexible rental options with a IDR150,000 (US$8.38) deposit and guaranteed daily earnings for the first two months.

The press release highlights the launch as part of Green SM's broader "Green Your Move, Refresh Your City" campaign, aimed at Indonesia's environment ministry. The company claims to have facilitated over 850 million rides worldwide, with more than 800,000 tonnes of CO2 avoided. Green SM's approach differs from its rivals Grab and Gojek, as it owns the app, scooters, and charging network, making it a vertically integrated competitor in the Indonesian market.