VinFast’s Rental Model Is Changing How Drivers Think About Daily Earnings

Faced with volatile fuel costs, ride-hailing drivers are weighing a new EV rental model that promises lower daily expenses and more predictable income. In the Philippines, where ride-hailing drivers often work long hours across dense urban corridors, a driver’s margin can hinge on a few hundred pesos a day, and with fuel prices rising amid global volatility, those margins have grown increasingly thin. 

“I’ve been driving for almost eight years, and lately it feels like I’m working just to keep up with fuel,” said Arnel Dizon, a ride-hailing driver based in Metro Manila. “Some days, you start with a full tank and by the end of the shift, a big part of what you earned is already gone.”

He had been thinking about switching to electric vehicles for months, after hearing other drivers talk about lower charging costs, though only in the way one considers a long-delayed repair: necessary, but never quite urgent enough to act on. A new car meant a down payment that would take months to recover. Keeping his current one meant continuing a pattern he could no longer predict.

As he scrolled through TikTok on a recent afternoon while waiting for his next ride, the brief dopamine surge offered a momentary escape from rising fuel costs. It was at that moment that the idea of an alternative surfaced through a social media post. It outlined a rental model designed specifically for service drivers, where vehicles could be accessed for commercial use, with rental fees starting from around 1,000 pesos. 

“You don’t have to buy the car outright,” he said, recalling what stood out to him. “You can rent it, start earning right away, and your costs are easier to manage.”

That model is part of a new initiative from VinFast, the Vietnam-based electric vehicle manufacturer that has been steadily expanding in the Philippines with a growing lineup of battery electric vehicles and supporting infrastructure. The rollout of the program is set to begin in key metropolitan areas like Metro Manila, before expanding further.

VinFast’s presence in the market has also been building. In the Philippines, it ended 2025 as the No.2 battery electric vehicle brand, according to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. At the same time, the company has been developing its charging network, a key pillar in building consumer confidence in everyday usability. Under the current policy, drivers can charge for free at V-Green stations until the end of March 2029, effectively removing one of the largest operating costs altogether. 

“The free charging was what sold me, and I actually visited a VinFast dealership over the weekend to ask about registration,” said Alvarado, another ride-hailing driver based in Pasig, adding that he is interested in the 5-seat Herio Green.

The Herio Green is a variant of the VF 5 that VinFast has already introduced in the Philippines and is tailored specifically for service use. It is one of two all-electric models available under the new rental policy, alongside the 7-seat Limo Green. 

Alvarado has already run the numbers with this model. For a driver covering 200 to 300 kilometers a day, monthly mileage can reach 6,000 to 9,000 kilometers. At that level, a comparable gasoline vehicle can consume fuel worth around 24,000 to 36,000 pesos per month, depending on traffic and driving patterns.

With the Herio Green, VinFast’s free charging policy effectively reduces energy costs to zero under current incentives. The difference, which can reach tens of thousands of pesos each month, “can already cover a significant portion of my household expenses,” Alvarado said. Over a year, the savings can accumulate to roughly 300,000 to over 400,000 pesos, certainly not a small sum.

Also, the Herio Green’s specifications appear closely aligned with the rhythm of Alvarado’s work, and that of many other service drivers. Its driving range of over 300 kilometers per charge is enough to sustain a full day of urban driving, while fast charging from 10 percent to 70 percent takes around 30 minutes, a duration that aligns with a typical break between trips. 

“I usually stop anyway,” Alvarado said. “If the car charges while I rest, it doesn’t feel like I’m losing time.”

For Dizon, the thought of switching has stayed with him in recent days. Each time he runs the numbers, the gap becomes clearer.

“I’m not there yet,” he said. “But it’s starting to feel like a step I’ll take sooner rather than later to really enjoy that sweet and free charging deal.”