Cabbies opting to join e-hailing service to stay competitive

KUALA LUMPUR: City cabbies are jumping on the e-hailing service bandwagon in order to compete with ridesharing companies.

Application service provider 2GO executive chairman Tengku Hasmadi Tengku Hashim said it has collaborated with 12 taxi associations and companies, including Big Blue Capital Taxi company, to give taxi drivers a competitive edge.

“The emergence of e-hailing services has affected their income and we are here to help innovate the industry and not leave taxi drivers behind.

“They cannot keep pointing fingers at others, so they need to transform to cope with the customers’ demands,” he told a press conference at the official launch of the 2GO taxi service application here yesterday.

The mobile application provides quick connection and facilities for customers to hail taxis and allows cashless payment, standardised fares and insurance coverage for both drivers and customers.

Tengku Hasmadi said with the mobile application, customers, especially tourists, would no longer have to negotiate the price with taxi drivers and at the same time, it makes the payment transparent.

“It can go as low as RM3.70 for short distances, but we have set the limit within the criteria allowed by the Land Public Transport Commission and the Transport Ministry,” he said.

According to him, 1,800 taxi drivers have already registered under the application and this was expected to increase to 10,000 by year end.

“I think we can still meet the demand.

“We do not want to simply allow all of them to join, as there might be those who might jeopardise our good image.

“We are also looking at extending our services to Johor Baru and Penang,” he said.

Big Blue Capital (M) Sdn Bhd adviser Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail said he will also be providing transportation and tour services via the app to make travelling across the country using their cabs much easier and more enjoyable.