Stiff competition in the ride-hailing industry is expected this year with the entry of California-based ride-hailing app inDrive, which is set to start its commercial operations in Metro Manila and in five key provinces within the first quarter.
Last December, RL Soft Corp., the operator of inDrive, secured its accreditation as a transport network company from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), enabling it to offer ride-hailing services in the Philippines.
The ride-hailing service operator will activate its services in Metro Manila in the first quarter. It will also initially offer its services in five cities: Baguio, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan and Bacolod.
Prior to its official Metro Manila launch, the inDrive app is now available for download online and passengers can explore and use the services while inDrive continues to beef up its roster of drivers in the city.
Last December, inDrive started its driver recruitment and ran a driver registration campaign in active cities. Drivers who were able to register with the platform received a fuel voucher worth $10 or P500.
“We hope that with our reliable ride-hailing service and fair pricing, we can bring our commuters to their destinations and goals and, at the same time, help our drivers secure better income for their families, all toward accomplishing their goals this 2024,” said Roman Ermoshin, director APAC at inDrive, in a statement.
inDrive said it aims to provide passengers with fair rates, regardless of the weather, whether within the city or even during heavy traffic.
inDrive empowers both passengers and drivers by providing them with the freedom to choose rides or orders based on their individual requirements and preferences. This unique approach enables direct communication between the passenger and driver to foster a sense of transparency and flexibility, the company said.
This method streamlines the process, enhancing the overall experience for both passengers and drivers, the company added.
inDrive provides passengers with a list of available drivers upon confirmation of a ride request. They can check the drivers’ profiles, which contain the driver’s rating, vehicle model, ride history and estimated time of arrival, and based on this information, select the driver.
For added security and in case of an emergency, passengers and drivers can tap the safety button — a shield on the main screen — to call for the police or an ambulance. Furthermore, they can share the details of their ride, such as the route they are taking, the driver and vehicle info, and real-time trip status with their friends or family.
inDrive is a global mobility and urban services platform headquartered in Mountain View, California, USA. The inDrive app has been downloaded over 200 million times and was the second most downloaded mobility app in 2023.
In addition to ride-hailing, inDrive provides an expanding list of urban services, including intercity transportation, freight delivery, task assistance, courier delivery and employment search.
inDrive operates in over 700 cities in more than 46 countries. It said it supports local communities via its peer-to-peer pricing model and community empowerment programs, which help advance education, sports, arts and sciences, gender equality and other vital initiatives.
LTFRB yesterday conducted a hearing on the show cause order issued against RL Soft due to a complaint about haggling of fares early this month.
