SEMTEMBERASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK8NEWSROOMGreen & Smart Mobility (GSM), also known as Xanh SM, the Vietnamese EV-based taxi firm backed by billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong, is expanding aggressively across Southeast Asia to challenge dominant players like Grab.Launched just two and a half years ago, GSM already holds 35­40 percent market share in Vietnam, compared with Grab's 32­55 percent. The company has expanded into Laos, Indonesia, and the Philippines, with India next on its radar. In Manila, GSM recently deployed 2,500 vehicles and announced plans to invest US$1 billion over three years. In Indonesia, it is targeting a 10,000-vehicle EV taxi fleet by year-end, competing with incumbents Grab, GoTo Group, and Blue Bird.· GSM expands EV ride-hailing into the Philippines, Indonesia, and beyond· Plans $1B investment in the Philippines and 10,000 EV taxis in Indonesia· Vertically integrated with VinFast, ensuring cost and scale advantagesHowever, GSM's scale remains smaller than rivals who operate millions of vehicles regionally. Analysts note the challenge mirrors Uber's failed attempt to penetrate Southeast Asia--Uber spent $1 billion annually before retreating in 2018, selling operations to Grab for $3 billion. This underscores the capital intensity, local expertise, and regulatory ties required to succeed in the region.What sets GSM apart is its vertically integrated model with VinFast. GSM contributed 21 percent of VinFast's EV deliveries in Q1 2025, as Vuong's 95 percent stake in GSM ensures guaranteed demand for VinFast vehicles. Each deployed taxi supports both ride-hailing revenues and VinFast's sales expansion, offering cost advantages unavailable to pure-play ride-hailing firms.This integration also helps VinFast build brand presence in new markets like Indonesia and the Philippines. GSM's approach highlights how ride-hailing can be more than transportation--it can serve as a strategic distribution channel for EV adoption across Southeast Asia. Agile Labs, a Singapore software innovation firm, launched the first AI Risk Matrix Assessment for enterprise software projects in Southeast Asia, a tool designed to address one of the most significant challenges facing the industry- project failure due to ambiguous requirements and unmanaged risk.Industry research indicates that 60 to 70 percent of enterprise software initiatives are not successful, typically because risks are not tackled until the development phase starts.Agile Labs' AI Risk Matrix Builder does away with that by allowing companies to uncover, measure, and mitigate risks prior to a line of code being written, providing a forward-looking process for decision-making.· Agile Labs unveils Southeast Asia's first AI Risk Matrix Assessment to cut enterprise project failures· The tool helps businesses identify, quantify, and mitigate risks before coding begins· Agile Labs strengthens position as a leading innovator in AI-driven enterprise software solutions"This is more than just risk management, it's about giving enterprises clarity and control from day one. By leveraging AI integration, we're empowering businesses to foresee complications, make data-driven decisions, and ultimately reduce costly rework." said a spokesperson for Agile Labs.The tool is intended for project teams to organize planning efficiently and align stakeholders upfront, enhancing project success rates and shortening time-to-market. It illustrates Agile Labs' larger goal of integrating custom web application development, mobile application development in Singapore, and AI-powered solutions into scalable digital products."Our clients don't just need software; they need software that works efficiently, securely, and at scale. The AI Risk Matrix is a natural extension of our commitment to agility, innovation, and quality." says Agile Labs' CEOWith the acceleration of digital transformation in Southeast Asia, Agile Labs is well-positioned as the go-to partner for enterprises looking for smarter, more resilient software solutions. VIETNAM'S GSM EXPANDS EV RIDE-HAILING ACROSS SOUTHEAST ASIAAGILE LABS LAUNCHES SOUTHEAST ASIA'S FIRST AI RISK MATRIX
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