Grab secures licence to operate taxis from Singapore’s LTA – GrabCab is the city state’s sixth taxi company

E-hailing company Grab, a disruptor of the traditional taxi business, is now a taxi operator in Singapore. The republic’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded a Street-hail Service Operator Licence (SSOL) to GrabCab, a subsidiary of Grab Rentals and sister company of GrabCar, which already holds licenses for ride-hailing and car-pooling.

With the SSOL, GrabCab becomes the sixth taxi operator in Singapore. Valid for 10 years, the licence will be in effect from April 9. Conditions include meeting LTA’s safety standards and ensuring that arrangements with drivers are non-exclusive in nature.

According to The Edge Singapore, under the licence, GrabCab will be allowed a three-year grace period to progressively expand its fleet to meet the minimum fleet size requirement of 800 vehicles.

Just like other taxi operators, GrabCab must ensure that its taxis are easily identifiable by street-hail customers, including having a prominent sign on the vehicle’s roof and a distinctive livery. The vehicle models used must be approved by LTA, which will require things such as a boot big enough for a folded wheelchair or luggage. Fares must be prominently displayed in the car.

“Grab is grateful to LTA for granting us a taxi license, which provides us the opportunity to introduce GrabCab, a taxi fleet to complement private hire cars on our platform. This enables us to address unmet consumer demand and improve ride availability, particularly during peak hours, late nights and in areas only accessible by taxis. It also positions us to better serve the anticipated growth in point-to-point rides in the coming years, while catering to consumers who prefer street-hailing,” a Grab spokesperson said.

“In the coming months, we will launch our 100% green GrabCab fleet, featuring popular low- and zero-emission hybrid and electric vehicles from leading manufacturers, offering consumers a greener way to travel. We will work with GrabCab drivers to uphold high service standards, and leverage our industry-leading technology to enhance safety and convenience for all,” the spokesperson added.

The Singapore-headquartered company said that it will be sponsoring Taxi Driver’s Vocational Licence course fees for aspiring taxi drivers and six-month National Taxi Association membership fees for new drivers joining GrabCab.

“Grab remains committed to maintaining an open and fair platform for all PHV and taxi drivers. We will continue to treat all drivers fairly, match them with optimal bookings, and empower them to maximise their productivity on our platform. This approach also ensures our marketplace remains efficient, providing consumers with a better ride-hailing experience,” the company said.

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