If you ask VinFast officials, they will tell you that full-electric mobility has long crossed the realm of novelty into becoming a real, viable alternative toward sustainable mobility and cost-efficient ownership.
But it doesn’t end there. Why not, the argue, leverage the advantages of BEVs to help people make a living?
Underscored VinFast Philippines CEO Rhomel Franco, “How can we make electric mobility more useful in the everyday lives of Filipinos – not just a clear way to travel but… something that fits real budget and real plans for the future?”
To this end, the company, in concert with affiliated app-based BEV (battery electric vehicle) taxi and ride-hailing service Green GSM – backed by Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup (which also owns VinFast) – recently introduced Rentapasada, a “drive-to-earn rental program” predicated on a brand-new VinFast vehicle to be deployed as a transport network vehicle service (TNVS) unit.
Qualified drivers can operate either the five-seater hatchback Herio Green or the three-row, seven-seater Limo Green.
The concept of a vehicle as a way to earn a living is not new, of course. But what VinFast and Green GSM are said to leverage is the vaunted ease and simplicity tucked into the program. Franco averred that Rentapasada is designed to be “approachable,” with requirements to get started described as being “modest.”
Meanwhile, VinFast Philippines Deputy CEO for Sales and Dealer Recruitment Victor Vela explained that the program, for starters, significantly lowers the financial barrier to entry. Drivers can begin participating with rental rates starting at P1,050 per day, and an initial P5,000 plus a refundable P101,000 security deposit for the Nerio Green and P129,000 deposit for the Limo Green. Including a rental fee of P30,435 a month (Herio Green) and P39,130 per month (Limo Green), the total daily deduction for the Herio Green is P1,300 and P1,650 for the Limo Green.
The Rentapasada partner will share a booking platform with the aforementioned Green GSM taxis, those now-familiar cyan-colored taxis. Charging is free until March 31, 2029 at all V-Green charging points. The charging infrastructure company, established by VinFast Founder and Chairman Pham Nhat Vuong, is growing a footprint here in the country in support of the auto company’s aspirations.
Rentapasada applicants must have a professional driver’s license and need to secure an NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) or police clearance, get a medical certificate, pass a drug test, and have a tax identification number (TIN).
VinFast (through Green GSM) will cover vehicle registration, inspection fees, road maintenance fees, PAMI (Passenger Accident Management and Insurance Agency, Inc.) insurance, vehicle insurance and comprehensive third-party liability, periodic maintenance fees, and GPS installation. For the driver’s account are TNVS registration application (though Green GSM will assist in this area), third-party charging cost, toll fees, parking fees, traffic violation penalties, and repair costs.
Rentapasada’s standard initial contract period will span five years, extendable by three more years. On the first year, the driver will get 90% of earnings (subject to government fees and taxes), then 85% on the second and third years. The succeeding years’ income share is yet to be determined.
Of course, there are driver commitments: He or she must log 250 trips in a month, get at least 90% acceptance rate, and at least 90% completion rate.
Compared against internal combustion engine-powered equivalents, VinFast/Green GSM units are said to demand a lower initial cash out – particularly for rented (versus outright-bought) units, although monthly installments can prove a bit pricier. Of course, the VinFast will shine brightest in its zero-expense charging versus regular fuel costs of ICE models. This helps to unlock up to almost double the net revenue.
Concluded Franco, “We see Rentapasada as an invitation to drivers, to aspiring operators, and to everyday Filipinos looking for a practical way forward. When we talk about making mobility more useful, we mean giving Filipinos more ways to move, more ways to earn, and more ways to take part in the growing ride hailing economy, and we want to play our part in making that possible, together with our partners.”
Launched at this year’s Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS), VinFast said that Rentapasada – together with Green GSM and V-Green – are posited as forming part of “a connected ecosystem designed to address key barriers to EV adoption.”
