Grab a ride, grab a carbon offset

Grab users will soon be able to reduce their carbon footprint when travelling with Grab through a carbon offset feature integrated within the Grab app.

Source: Grab.
Explaining the carbon
offset feature.

In a survey, 82% of Grab users across six Southeast Asian countries said they were concerned about climate change and were taking some actions to reduce their carbon footprint¹. Among those who were concerned about climate change but did not take action, 44% said they did not know how, and 31% felt it was too difficult to take action.

Grab’s new carbon offset feature, to be launched in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in July before rolling out to the rest of the region, will let consumers purchase carbon offsets at less than US$0.10 per ride. The amount will go towards reforestation and conservation projects managed by local non-governmental organisations.

In Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia, Grab has partnered with EcoMatcher to work with a list of vetted foundations and NGOs to plant trees. Users in these countries will receive a dedicated tree when they have completed a designated number of carbon-neutral rides. The trees will be planted in GrabForGood Forests, dedicated spaces for Grab’s tree-planting initiative under the carbon offset programme.

Through EcoMatcher, Grab users will be able to virtually travel to their trees, name their trees, view photos of their newly-planted trees, and learn more about the farmers who planted their trees. In addition, Grab users in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam and the Philippines can also plant a tree through EcoMatcher using their GrabRewards points from the end of June.

“Over the years, we have taken steps to reduce our environmental footprint, such as investing over US$200 million to build up the number of electric vehicles and hybrids in our car rental fleet inSingapore, as well as saving close to 380 million sets of single-use plastic cutlery from being used in 2020. 

"However, there is still a lot of work to be done to get us to a net-zero carbon future. Our new carbon offset feature is another important step in reducing our carbon footprint, while contributing towards environmental conservation projects that uplift local communities,” said Cheryl Goh, Group Head of Marketing and Sustainability, Grab.

The initiative is outlined in Grab's first annual Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) report, which outlines the company’s commitment to create socioeconomic empowerment and safeguard the environment while delivering strong financial performance.

“The health of our business is intrinsically linked to the welfare of our communities and the protection of our environment. In order for our business to grow and succeed in the long run, we must work towards building thriving communities where our partners have sustainable income opportunities, while protecting our environment for generations to come. 

"Our first ESG Report reflects our commitment to build a business with a double bottom line, while ensuring transparency and accountability to our stakeholders,” said Anthony Tan, Group CEO and Co-Founder of Grab.

1 According to a regional survey of 8,910 Grab users conducted in March 2021, across Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.

TADA to roll out taxi rides in Singapore

From 19 February 2019, Singapore’s first zero-commission ride-hailing service, TADA, will launch AnyTADA, a service which offers flat fares* for Premier Taxi rides.

AnyTADA matches riders to the physically-closest TADA driver, whether in a registered TADA private-hire vehicle (PHV) or a TADA-registered Premier Taxi. The customer is informed of the fare when requesting the ride. 

Riders can opt for flat fares or metered fares. PHV fare options are flat-fare. A rider who would like a flat-fare taxi ride will be charged the same flat fare as with a PHV ride.

“Taxi drivers can earn more with flat fare and at the same time, customers will have more assurance that their fares will not suddenly increase because of traffic conditions or choice of route to destination. This is indeed a win-win situation which also reduces chance of disputes between passenger and drivers,” said Armstrong Ho, a Premier Taxi driver.

“Despite a more competitive landscape in ride-hailing, we are thankful that we continue to enjoy strong support from our growing TADA community. We believe that our stable and fair fares continue to attract a large segment of riders who prioritise sustainability and service above short-term promotions. AnyTADA is a step towards improving the experience for our riders to help them commute safely and more efficiently,” said Kay Woo, CEO and Founder of MVL Foundation.

As part of MVL’s commitment towards improving the driver experience, TADA recently implemented an auto-despatch function for drivers to receive back-to-back orders automatically.

Details:

Customers can begin to use AnyTADA after updating their TADA app at the App Store or Play Store. 

*The upfront fare excludes prevailing electronic road pricing (ERP) charges and surcharges such as additional stops, baby and booster seats.

RYDE launches hourly booking service

Source: RYDE. Screen captures from RydeHIRE.

Ryde, Singapore’s homegrown ride-hailing app, has launched RydeHIRE, an hourly private-hire booking service.

RydeHIRE caters to both individuals and businesses. Users can book a private-hire vehicle for a few hours as opposed to a per-trip basis. This is useful for people who need a driver to drive them to a few destinations with some waiting time in between stops.

Terence Zou, founder and CEO of Ryde Technologies says, “We are very excited to be the first to launch this innovative product that will provide more choice for consumers and also increase the incomes for our drivers.”


Ryde's mission is to transform the daily commute, one ride at a time, using technology and leveraging on the power of social networks. Ryde's successful carpooling services, launched 2015, have expanded further into the mobility space with a ComfortDelGro partnership.

Details:

Rates start from S$30 per hour for four-seaters and S$40 per hour for six-seater vehicles. Rates will fluctuate based on demand, going up during peak periods and on public holidays. Users can book their ride for between two and six hours and pay for the service via RydePAY.

The Ryde app is available for download for iOS and Android.

Uber enters Seremban, Malaysia

Source: Uber. UberX is arriving in Seremban in December

Uber is expanding to its eighth city in Malaysia – Seremban. Ride hailing via uberX will be available from 1 December 2016. The announcement follows Uber's launch in Melaka with the uberX product on 27 October 2016.

Uber also provides opportunities for driver-partners to earn additional income using their own car. Uber drivers decide on their own driving schedule, and decide how much they earn.

The company has been exploring the provision of chauffeured services to meet different needs. Uber recently introduced UberTRIP in Bali, Indonesia for instance. The service allows riders to request an Uber for between five and 10 hours, regardless of the distance and number of stops that the rider decides to make.

Interested?

Sign up to drive with Uber

Payment for uberX rides can be made via cash or credit/debit card. The fare structure for uberX in Seremban is as below:

Source: Uber. Fare structure for UberX in Seremban.

Emirates Skywards offers members Careem services

Source: Careem website. Emirates Skywards partners with Careem to benefit members.

Emirates Skywards, Emirates' frequent flyer programme, has signed on Careem as its latest partner. Emirates Skywards is the only frequent flyer programme to offer both accrual and redemption opportunities with the region’s leading car booking app.

Careem is one of the fastest growing companies in the region and is currently available in nine countries. Members can accrue or redeem Skywards Miles when using Careem services in the UAE, Qatar, KSA, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Kuwait and Morocco.

Members can pre-book or request a car instantly via the Careem mobile app. To earn Skywards Miles, members must add their Emirates Skywards membership number to their Careem account, using the same name as their Emirates Skywards account. One mile will be earned for every US$2 spent on Careem.

Interested?

Sign up for Careem services (link for Dubai)

Uber Malaysia welcomes Budget support for ride sharing

Source: Uber Malaysia. Foong.

In response to the Malaysia Prime Minister YAB Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Haji Abdul Razak's Budget announcement that ride-sharing will be encouraged, Uber's Leon Foong, GM, Uber Malaysia had this to say:

“We are delighted that the government and Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak have recognised how Uber can positively impact the socioeconomic status of Malaysians in the B40 segment. By providing the choice to earn at the touch of a button to Malaysians from all walks of life, driver-partners can provide for themselves and their families, as well as have greater independence to pursue their dreams.

“We are also thrilled to be engaging Proton, the national car manufacturer, as a partner, and will make an announcement with more details soon. This is the first of its kind in the world for Uber. Just as Uber has been a key pioneer in the ridesharing industry, Proton has also pioneered the automotive industry in Malaysia. We share the same vision to drive Malaysia forward through technological innovation and creating economic opportunities.

“The initiative clearly provides tangible growth and economic empowerment. It is also a clear win for the ridesharing industry and shows forward-thinking leadership. We commend the Malaysian government for this astute, people-centric Budget!

“Wherever we operate, Uber has positively impacted people and cities and we have positively contributed to the local economy. Ride-sharing is here to stay and Uber will certainly continue to do our part in improving urban mobility in Malaysia.”

In his Budget announcement PM Najib said: "To assist the B40 group, especially BR1M recipients to generate additional income, the government will encourage their participation as ride-sharing drivers such as Uber drivers, particularly those who own vehicles.

Their income could reach up to RM1,500 per month for part-time drivers working between 10 to 40 hours per week, and RM4,300 if more than 40 hours per week.

To those who do not own a vehicle, down payment will be made using BR1M and a rebate of RM4,000 will be provided for the purchase of Proton Iriz."

B40 refers to the bottom 40% of households in Malaysia, which have a monthly income RM3,900 and below, while BR1M stands for 1Malaysia People’s Aid.

Interested?

Read the full Budget 2017 speech

Dubai RTA signs agreement with Careem for ride hailing

Source: RTA. HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA and Mudassir Sheikha, Founder and Managing Director of Careem, signed the agreement on behalf of the two respective entities. RTA executives attending the signing included Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, Member of Board of Executive Directors, Abdullah Yousef Al Ali, CEO of Public Transport Agency, and Adel Shakri, Director of Transportation Systems. Bassel Al Nahlaoui, VP of Business Development & Government Relations attended on behalf of Careem.

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a cooperation agreement with Careem Networks Company, the provider of online booking of limousine and taxi services, under which Careem will provide passenger transport service on limousines or taxis online or via a smart app. The service, which will be in accordance with the laws applicable to taxi and limousine services in the Emirate, will run using about 9,841 taxicabs and 4,700 limousines.

“Undertaking this initiative stems from RTA’s keenness to implement the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VP and PM of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into the world’s smartest city, bring happiness to people, deliver excellent services to tourists and enhance customers experience. The smartest city envisioned by HH is a city that considers the comfort & luxury of residents a top priority, and delivers technology-driven highly efficient services, as the smart transportation is one of the key pillars of smart cities," said HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA.

"This Agreement supports the integrated mobility platform project currently undertaken by RTA in Dubai. The platform provides customers an easy access to all transit means in Dubai through a single window (smart app). In this transit hub, RTA’s multi-modal transit systems (metro, tram, buses, marine transit means, and taxis) will be integrated with transit systems of other entities in Dubai such as limo service providers, Palm Monorail, and Dubai Trolley. RTA intends to enhance the partnership with the private sector and invites all online booking companies to join this drive aimed at realising the objective of delivering smart services to customers."

“Four years ago, we decided to establish Careem to expedite the setup of a technological infrastructure relating to online booking of mobility systems in the Middle East with a view of making life easier, and offering integrated transport solutions," said Mudassir Sheikha, Founder and MD, Careem, who noted that the agreement would enhance Careem’s presence in the Dubai market through offering integrated transport solutions enabling clients safe, reliable mobility options.

“The partnership with RTA is a huge stride for Careem, and we are keen on supporting RTA’s efforts towards developing smooth mobility solutions for customers."

Grab for Work helps companies manage transport expenses

• Grab for Work enables human resource (HR) and finance professionals to manage business transport expenses efficiently, enjoy payment flexibility and set ride policies
• Full integration with Concur to reduce time on claims reimbursement
 

Grab, the Southeast Asian ride-hailing company, has launched Grab for Work, a free transport expense management solution designed for business users across Southeast Asia. Grab for Work offers business leaders, line managers, human resource (HR) and finance professionals across small and medium enterprises (SMEs)* and multinational corporations (MNCs) a more productive way to manage their organisation’s transport spending.

Grab for Work was beta tested and developed with inputs from more than 150 companies across the region, and is currently in use by more than 150 companies across Southeast Asia, including Chope Group (Singapore), Park Hotel Group (Singapore), Rainmaker Labs (Singapore), Yesboss (Indonesia) and Malaysian Airlines (Malaysia).

“Companies should focus resources on business growth and serving their customers. We see an opportunity to provide an end-to-end transport solution for companies – to help them modernise and streamline their transport expense management processes through our technology platform. From rides to receipts to reimbursements, Grab for Work offers a seamless user experience and enables HR and finance departments to save time on managing day-to-day corporate transport expenses,” said Anthony Tan, CEO and Co-Founder, Grab.

Rides booked with Grab can be tagged as business rides and assigned to corporate groups within the Grab app. All rides would be synced to the Grab for Work web portal, which is a single tool for businesses to organise and oversee employees’ travel. Features include:
Track and manage travel expenses by cost-centres, departments and project teams
Use the groups feature to sort ride statements, and enjoy the flexibility of assigning different payment modes by groups or individuals. Keep track of specific group travel by scheduling automated weekly or monthly reports to be sent to your work email.

Set preferred corporate payment options
Provide flexible payment options to employees, including automatic charging to corporate credit cards or allowing the use of e-vouchers, personal credit cards or cash.

Set and enforce ride policies
Company executives can manage travel expenditure by setting ride policies to regulate when and where employees are allowed to claim for business travel, based on set locations, times and days. For example, policies can be set to cater for business meetings or late night rides.

Reduce paperwork
Rides booked through the Grab app will be automatically consolidated in the Grab for Work portal in real-time, complete with ride information including the employee name, travel date and time, pickup and dropoff location, fleet type and selected payment mode. This removes the usual pain points of manual processes, such as scanning receipts and penning down trip details.


The Grab for Work portal is also available for free to all Grab users, enabling them to:

Separate business and personal rides
Tag rides as business or personal using the Grab app. All rides booked through the Grab app are automatically updated and categorised in the Grab for Work portal.

Consolidate receipts for reimbursement
Employees can download e-receipts of all completed rides using the Grab for Work portal. The search function makes it easy for business users to download a history of past business rides whenever needed.


“By leveraging technology, Grab for Work effectively answers the need for greater efficiency in administrative processes, especially in complex operating environments such as the hospitality industry. With this innovative solution, we expect meaningful time savings for our associates, which would translate to higher productivity levels and allow more effective deployment of our human capital,” says Elaine Toh, Group Human Resource Director of Park Hotel Group.

Source: Grab. The employee experience.

Grab for Work is fully integrated with Concur, an expense management platform. Concur users who travel with Grab can look forward to faster expense reimbursement; their Grab e-receipts will be automatically synced to Concur, removing the need to scan and upload receipts.

“Connecting effortlessly with leading transportation apps makes it easy for our clients. The partnership with Grab is important to our Southeast Asia market and we’re thrilled to welcome them as a Concur App Center partner,” said Madanjit Singh, Managing Director, South East Asia at Concur.

Interested?

Grab for Work is now available to corporate customers in the six countries that Grab operates in: Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. In Indonesia, companies can opt for the monthly direct billing option, where companies issue company codes to employees, and are invoiced monthly for business rides. Sign up