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Grab Philippines eyes revival of motorcycle taxi biz
Grab Philippines may again seek the government’s permission to participate in the latter’s extended motorcycle taxi pilot run, an official said on Wednesday.
During a virtual briefing, Ronald Roda, Grab Philippines head of transport and shared services, said his company might approach the Department of Transportation on reintroducing its GrabBike ride-hailing service after Malacañang decided to resume motorcycle taxi services to boost public transportation in the country’s capital.
He also said Grab Philippines could bank on its about 70,000 motorcycle riders to reenter the market, but added that there was a need to conduct safety training.
The official’s remarks came 10 months after the company said “it was “seriously considering to reinvest in the motorcycle taxi denomination and relaunch its GrabBike service in the” country.
The firm, best known for its GrabCar services, was forced to discontinue GrabBike in mid-2016 after transportation agencies raised questions about its safety.
Registered motorcycle drivers suspended services in March after the government put Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon under enhanced community quarantine to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 in the country.
Grab Philippines’ plan also came a week after another ride-hailing company, Angkas, expressed confidence about the readiness of its partner-bikers to hit the roads of the capital.
Besides Angkas, JoyRide and Move It were also part of the pilot study. Transportation regulators are yet to issue guidelines on the resumption of the pilot run.
Source: https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/10/29/business/companies/grab-ph-eyes-revival-of-motorcycle-taxi-biz/788223/