InDriver, an international eHailing platform has announced that it has officially begun operations in Malaysia. Unlike typical eHailing apps such as Grab or AirAsia Ride, InDriver aims to offer a unique service by allowing passengers and drivers to negotiate the fare of the ride.
The eHailing service is now available in Penang, Alor Setar, Sungai Petani, Ipoh, Taiping, Melaka, Johor Bahru, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Kuching, Miri, Sibu, Bintulu and Kota Kinabalu. It aims to officially roll out in the Klang Valley soon and at the time of writing, it appears they are already available in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
InDriver isn’t exactly new locally as it has been available under the radar in Malaysia since last year. Malaysia eHailing Drivers Association (MeHDA) had previously called them out for operating illegally in Malaysia and alleged that it accepted drivers without the required Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence.
When we asked InDriver about their status, they told us that they have obtained approvals from the Ministry of Transport and the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD). To comply with regulations, InDriver requires all drivers to have a PSV and they will also assist newcomers who are interested to join by providing the necessary information to get the permits.
InDriver COO Egor Fedorov said “Today marked a very meaningful milestone for us as we start our journey of improving the way we access ride-hailing service in Malaysia. InDriver firmly believes ride-hailing should be accessible, affordable and flexible. By allowing our users to independently determine and agree to the terms of a ride, we are able to combat algorithms used by other ride-hailing companies that increase ride prices due to peak hours, traffic conditions, and request history. “
He added “InDriver is also unique in the way that drivers are not automatically assigned to passengers. Passengers will receive counter offers from nearby drivers and they can select the most suitable driver that meets their preferences – fare, driver’s rating, estimated time of arrival, or vehicle model.”
With InDriver, you can enter your preferred fare when you request for a ride. If you’re not sure, the app also displays a recommended price as well as the estimated time of arrival. When you submit a ride request, the app will list out several drivers who are interested in taking the job along with their preferred fare price. If you find an offer that you like, you can choose to accept the ride. Unfortunately, InDriver currently does not support cashless or card payments. It only works with cash which is quite cumbersome in this day and age.
To sign up on InDriver is pretty straightforward and it needs a verified mobile number to get started. The app also needs your IC number but there’s no verification or eKYC required. The app is currently available on Apple App Store, Google Play Store and Huawei App Gallery.
