Delhi launches 1,000 EV taxis on World Environment Day, targets 10,000 in a year
Synopsis
On World Environment Day, Delhi put 1,000 app-based EV taxis on the road — backed by a Vietnamese company manufacturing in Tamil Nadu and a government pledge to scale to 10,000 vehicles within a year. It is the Rekha Gupta administration's most visible clean-mobility move yet, combining FDI, Make in India optics, and AI-powered passenger safety in a single launch.
Key Takeaways
1,000 EV taxis were launched in Delhi-NCR on 5 June 2025 , World Environment Day, from the Delhi Secretariat .
The fleet is planned to expand to 10,000 vehicles within one year under the app-based service.
The service is operated by Green SM , a Vietnam-based company with a manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu , entering India via the FDI route.
Vehicles feature AI-assisted cameras , real-time monitoring, and emergency SOS buttons for passenger and driver safety.
The company plans to increase women driver participation as part of its operations in India.
The launch aligns with the Delhi EV Policy and the broader Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat frameworks.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh on 5 June 2025 flagged off a new app-based electric taxi service in Delhi-NCR from the Delhi Secretariat, launching 1,000 electric vehicle (EV) taxis on World Environment Day. The initiative, backed by the Rekha Gupta government, is part of a broader push to reduce vehicular pollution in the capital and is slated to scale to 10,000 vehicles within one year.
Key Developments
The service is operated by Green SM, a Vietnam-based company that has established a manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu. The company entered India through the foreign direct investment (FDI) route under the 'Make in India' initiative. Nguyen Van Thanh, Global CEO of GSM, and Pham Sanh Chau, Vingroup Asia CEO, were present at the launch ceremony at the Delhi Secretariat.
What the Government Said
Minister Sirsa said the Delhi government, under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, remains committed to green initiatives that reduce pollution and improve citizens' quality of life. 'Whether it is large-scale plantation drives, cleaner technologies or the adoption of electric mobility, every step contributes towards building a healthier Delhi,' he said, describing the launch as 'another important milestone in this direction.'
Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh linked the timing of the launch to its symbolic significance. 'On the occasion of World Environment Day, the launch of this electric vehicle initiative from the Delhi Secretariat reflects our commitment to making Delhi cleaner, greener and pollution-free,' he said. He added that electric mobility is 'a key pillar of Delhi's vision for sustainable urban transport' and aligns with the objectives of the Delhi EV Policy.
Safety Features and Women's Empowerment
The EV taxis are equipped with advanced safety technologies, including AI-assisted interior and exterior cameras, real-time monitoring systems, and emergency SOS buttons for both drivers and passengers. Each vehicle features dedicated cameras monitoring the road, the driver, and the passenger compartments. Minister Sirsa noted that a special focus has been placed on women's safety, with the company planning to increase the participation of women drivers in its operations.
Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat Angle
Minister Sirsa described the vehicles as 'a shining example of the Make in India initiative,' adding that they 'strengthen the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.' The Tamil Nadu manufacturing facility positions Green SM as a foreign investor contributing to India's domestic EV production capacity — a notable signal for the sector as Delhi accelerates its clean-mobility transition.
What's Next
The fleet is expected to grow from 1,000 to 10,000 vehicles across Delhi-NCR within one year. The expansion will be tracked against the targets set under the Delhi EV Policy, which aims to accelerate clean mobility adoption and cut vehicular emissions across the capital region.
Point of View
000 to 10,000 vehicles in twelve months is an ambitious operational target in a city where previous clean-mobility schemes have struggled with charging infrastructure gaps and driver adoption. The Green SM entry — a Vietnamese firm manufacturing in Tamil Nadu — is a meaningful FDI signal, but the Make in India framing will be scrutinised against how much of the value chain is genuinely localised. The AI-camera and SOS feature package addresses a real safety gap in Delhi's cab ecosystem, yet its effectiveness depends on the robustness of the monitoring backend. Whether this launch becomes a durable fleet or a World Environment Day photo-op will be decided by the charging network rollout and the pace of driver onboarding over the next two quarters.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new electric taxi service launched in Delhi?
It is an app-based EV taxi service launched on 5 June 2025 from the Delhi Secretariat, starting with 1,000 electric vehicles across Delhi-NCR. The service is operated by Green SM, a Vietnam-based company that manufactures its vehicles in Tamil Nadu under the Make in India initiative.
How many EV taxis will operate in Delhi-NCR and by when?
The service launched with 1,000 EV taxis and is planned to expand to 10,000 vehicles across Delhi-NCR within one year, according to an official statement issued at the launch.
Who is Green SM and what is its connection to India?
Green SM is a Vietnam-based electric mobility company whose Global CEO is Nguyen Van Thanh. It has set up a manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu and entered India through the FDI route as part of the Make in India initiative.
What safety features do the Delhi EV taxis have?
The taxis are equipped with AI-assisted interior and exterior cameras, real-time monitoring systems, and emergency SOS buttons for both drivers and passengers. Each vehicle has dedicated cameras covering the road, driver, and passenger compartments. The company also plans to increase the participation of women drivers.
How does this launch relate to the Delhi EV Policy?
Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh stated that the initiative aligns with the Delhi EV Policy's objectives to accelerate clean mobility adoption, reduce vehicular emissions, and improve air quality. The launch is part of the Rekha Gupta government's broader green and pollution-reduction agenda for the capital.
