After launching the all-electric VF MPV 7 in India, Vinfast is now gearing up to bring in the fleet-only Limo Green, which has been spotted on our roads. Vinfast had confirmed the EV at the VF MPV 7’s launch, but an exact launch timeline is unclear right now. Limo Green will be an important model for the carmaker as it plans to foray into the Indian commercial vehicle segment. With the Limo Green, Vinfast will join the list of mass-market carmakers offering fleet-specific models, including Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Toyota and Hyundai.
- Limo Green will have a separate ARAI certification for fleet use
- It could use VF MPV 7’s 60.13kWh battery pack
- A three-row, seven-seater layout is likely
- VF5 compact hatchback may also join the fleet line-up later
Vinfast Limo Green details
Same platform as the VF MPV 7
The Limo Green shares its platform with the VF MPV 7, and it may use the same 60.13kWh battery pack. While the VF MPV 7 has an ARAI-rated range of 517km, Vinfast India CEO Tapan Kumar Ghosh told us earlier that the Limo Green will have a separate ARAI certification for fleet use. “There are certain government regulations that have to be met when selling for fleet,” he had explained. The front-mounted electric motor may also be carried over, though its output for the electric taxi is still unknown; in the VF MPV 7, it makes 204hp and 280Nm. A three-row, seven-seat layout is also likely.
Less features than VF MPV 7, different badges
Ghosh also said the Limo Green will get different badges and logos that set it apart from the VF MPV 7. Its features will be pared back as well. For example, while the VF MPV 7 gets a two-tone cabin, the fleet version will use a simpler all-black interior. Going by our spy shot, it could get steel wheels with covers instead of alloy wheels and wear the brand’s signature cyan paint, which is reserved for its fleet models.
GSM ride-hailing service
As we reported, Vinfast will initially route Limo Green sales through its dealer network, catering directly to taxi operators and fleet buyers. However, Ghosh also pointed to a broader ecosystem play under the parent group. “There is a company called GSM, which is part of the Vingroup ecosystem. They have their own plans, which will be announced later,” he said. Green and Smart Mobility Joint Stock Company (GSM) was established by Vinfast founder Pham Nhat Vuong in March 2023. It is present in the group’s home market, Vietnam, as well as other Asian countries such as Malaysia and the Philippines, operating a variety of vehicles.
While Vinfast already has the VF6 and VF7 EVs on sale in India, for its GSM service, the brand will rely only on the Limo Green MPV and the VF5, which we understand is also on the cards for an India launch. The GSM taxis operational in markets like Vietnam and the Philippines are finished in the signature cyan colour, with customers being able to hail a ride via a dedicated app on their smartphone. For now, Vinfast is looking at the four-wheeler market in both passenger and fleet segments. However, the brand also offers electric two-wheelers overseas and is actively exploring entering this market in India.
Suraj Viswanathan
Glenn Noronha
Dhruv Dhaka
Dipan Sur
