VIENTIANE: LOCA Company Limited, Laos’ leading ride-hailing and EV mobility platform, has announced it has received US$2.5 million as investment from the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), through its project development arm InfraCo.
This strategic investment will provide essential growth capital for LOCA to develop an estimated 54 additional electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across Laos, and expand its EV taxi fleet. This will further strengthen the company’s role in advancing Laos’ green mobility transition.
The funding marks PIDG’s first-ever investment in Laos, underscoring growing international confidence in LOCA’s vision and in the country’s potential for sustainable transport. With a growing tech-savvy urban population and rising demand from both locals and tourists, ride-hailing is rapidly becoming one of the most important modes of transport in Laos.
The ride-hailing market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.33 per cent during 2025–2030, reaching a projected market value of more than US$8 million, and approximately 1.6 million users by 2030.
“Partnering with LOCA reaffirms PIDG’s commitment to invest in businesses that are focused on climate action and sustainable development,” said Claire Jarratt, Head of Investment Management – InfraCo at PIDG.
“With this first investment in Laos, we look forward to more partnerships and investments across our focus sectors of energy and electrification, transport, logistics and connectivity, sustainable and resilient cities, and water and natural resource management to catalyse growth.”
LOCA’s co-founders, Souliyo Vongdala and Phonepasong Mixab, said: “PIDG’s investment in LOCA will enable us to expand our EV charging network to up to 93 stations nationwide.
“This expansion goes far beyond serving our taxi fleet - it will benefit all EV owners in Laos, providing wider access to reliable and fast charging infrastructure. By making long-distance travel more convenient and reducing range anxiety, this investment will further accelerate EV adoption across the country and strengthen Laos’s transition toward a clean energy future.”
The EV sector in Laos is experiencing fast growth, driven by user demand and government support – through reduction on taxes for vehicle imports, road usage, and ancillary infrastructure.
To decrease dependence on imported fuel and to reduce carbon emissions, the Lao government has set targets to increase the share of EVs in the country to represent one percent of all vehicles by 2025, and more than 30 percent by 2030.
The move supports SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, by facilitating sustainable and resilient infrastructure development through advanced financial support. - Vientiane Times/ANN
