Uber or taxis? Yougov Singapore finds out

There has been a lot of buzz since Singapore Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan announced in a blog post on October 2 that the government will be reviewing private car-sharing apps like Uber. YouGov Singapore recently investigated what Singaporeans think about private car-sharing apps like Uber, GrabTaxi and Hailo.

While the use of third party apps comes second with regards to engaging a taxi, flagging down taxis streetside still come in top at 73%. From those who currently use such services, ease of using the app comes up tops (66%) with the ability to see availability of drivers (59%) plus the convenience of getting a ride compared to other ways (52%) rounded off the top three reasons for using these apps.

What is also interesting to see is that private car bookings (15%) come in as the last option for taxis versus private car transport. Those who prefer them said that private car bookings are cheaper than general taxi bookings (52%), and that drivers of these private cars tend to have better service (47%). Another reason is consumers feel that there tend to be more private cars available than taxis, which could change in the long run if there the supply of private car drivers becomes limited, or if there are more taxis on the road.

Additionally, more than half of Singaporeans agree (53%) that the government should legislate such services.

Interested?




View the infographic below:

GrabTaxi launches GrabCar service in Phuket

Source: GrabTaxi.

GrabTaxi, a regional on-demand transport mobile app, has launched its latest partnering service in Phuket, Thailand. Offering a premium and personalised ride experience, GrabCar aims to make commuting in Phuket hassle-free especially for tourists who visit Phuket.

Tourists can book a GrabCar and will be picked up at their doorstep in minutes, allowing them to explore the sights and sounds of Phuket safely and conveniently with a few taps on their smartphones.

As GrabCar operates on the same mobile platform as GrabTaxi, it ensures a seamless commuting experience for users. The same app can also be used in five other countries; Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, so travellers can expect consistency in the service.

GrabCar patrons will be ferried in premium cars such as a Mercedes-Benz, Toyota Camry, Nissan Teana or Honda Accord. GrabCar is also the only mobile app-based service to offer advanced bookings. Passengers can book a premium car up to two hours and no more than seven days in advance, which is especially popular for rides to the airport.

"GrabTaxi and its new partnering service GrabCar brings peace of mind and convenience to users. These two aspects are particularly important for tourists looking to have memorable holidays in Phuket. With GrabCar, they have an efficient, and a quick and convenient way of getting around safely," said Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong. "I hope that all green plate taxi drivers will join GrabCar to offer quality service."

#GrabDurian with #GrabTaxi on August 1 and 2 in Singapore

Source: GrabTaxi.

Southeast Asian taxi booking app GrabTaxi is offering loyal GrabTaxi passengers some premium examples of the king of fruits this coming weekend in Singapore.

On 1 and 2 August, users can order* a box of freshly-packed Mao Shan Wang via the GrabTaxi app for S$10 and have it delivered by a special GrabCar durian fleet. Delivery is island-wide and orders can be made via the app from 2pm – 9pm.

The Mao Shan Wang is of Malaysian origin and each box will contain the flesh from a whole durian of at least 1.5kg. Each user is limited to one order of durians and are advised to make their orders early due to limited availability. Grabbers are encouraged to share their experience by uploading images of their order and hashtagging #GrabDurian #MaoShanWang #BaoJiak on social media.

According to the company, the GrabDurian initiative for passengers is a response to Grabbers (GrabTaxi customers) who voiced their support for the durian feast which GrabTaxi held for its drivers last month.

It is likely that the GrabCar durian fleet will be kept busy. Since the app was launched in 2012, tens of thousands of taxi drivers have been using smart phones equipped with GrabTaxi to accept booking taxis in Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore. The GrabTaxi app has been downloaded than 5.5 million times and has an average of 10 bookings in every second.

Interested?

Order the durians by selecting the durian fleet icon in the GrabTaxi app and keying in “GRABDURIAN” in the promo code field

Download the app on smart phones and tablets with iOS, on Android, and on Blackberry

*Terms & conditions:
 Durians will be available for order on 1 and 2 August 2015, 2 – 9 pm
 Each user is limited to one order of durians only
 Payment by cash or GrabPay (payment card via GrabTaxi app) – For cash, please provide exact change where possible. Only $2, $5, $10 and $50 notes will be accepted