Southeast Asian ride-hailing giant Grab launched full operations in Yangon last week after a four-month trial that saw its drivers enjoy sharp rises in earnings, media reports said.
Myanmar has become the seventh country to be covered by the company’s ride-hailing platform, Grab co-founder Ms Hooi Ling Tan told the launch ceremony in Yangon on July 26.
The ceremony was presided over by Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, who emphasised his commitment to improving public transport in the commercial capital.
Tan said more than 5,000 drivers in Myanmar had registered with Grab and their average incomes had risen 30 percent since the trial began in March, the Japan Times reported.
“We have seen positive and meaningful results, including improvements in taxi service standards and transport efficiency,” the daily quoted her as saying.
Support more independent journalism like this. Sign up to be a Frontier member.
The start of full operations in Yangon has coincided with the launch of new services, including a care program for drivers and 24-hour customer call service, the report said. GrabVenue terminals are also planned at major shopping centres for customers who do not have a mobile phone.
Tan said the expansion of its technology was aimed at bringing improvements to users as well as supporting the government’s efforts to upgrade transport infrastructure.
Founded in 2012, Grab began operations in Malaysia before expanding to Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
It says it has partnered with more than 1.1 million drivers in 65 cities in the seven countries, the report said.
