JAKARTA (TheInsiderStories) - Express Group, one of the largest transportation service providers in Indonesia, and US ride sharing provider Uber announced a collaboration on a pilot program in the form of integration ridesharing and vehicle financing program in Indonesia.
Both companies believe that this partnership will benefit partners by providing easy-driver and new economic opportunities made possible with the support of technology, and provide more benefits and convenience for passengers and driver partners.
Through this pilot program, the partners participating taxi drivers Express will be able to use the Uber app to receive travel bookings uberX in supporting their efforts today. Express Group will also develop a new vehicle financing options, flexible and affordable.
The partners can repay the Uber-driver vehicle of Express Group - without using a taxi or branding attributes - supported revenue of driving along the Uber platform. This initiative will be one of the various offerings available in Uber Solutions Vehicle program.
“Through collaborations with Uber, we expect the utilization rate of the fleet Express Group can be improved and we can provide mobility services that are safe, comfortable, and attractive to passengers, while allowing the driver us to benefit from the technology ridesharing that provide flexibility and enhanced economic opportunities, ” said Benny Setiawan, Chief Operating Officer of the Express Group in a press statement.
Eric Alexander, Head of Business, APAC, Uber adding,”This collaboration is intended to make ridesharing more reliable for passengers and open more economic opportunities for partner-driver. We are delighted to collaborate with the Express Group,.”
Las March, taxi drivers from various companies held protests outside the Palace and Transportation Ministry’s office, prompting the Transportation Ministry to issue recommendation to block Uber and Grab ride-sharing mobile apps.
In response to the recommendation, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Rudiantara said the government would find solutions over this ride-sharing mobile apps controversial issue.
He stressed that the government could not hastily block those online transportation services, but noted that those online transportation services must comply with Indonesian laws and regulations in order to create level playing field.
Meanwhile, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said that the presence of online-based transport modes is inevitable given the development in technology. However, Kalla said that these types of businesses must adhere to and comply with Indonesian laws.
“Well, they have to (obey the laws). It is a consequence for everyone to register—including motorcycle taxis, they all have to register and get tested. So this is good in terms of security reasons,” Kalla said.
The establishment of legal entities by Uber and Grab may end the stand-off between those ride-sharing applications and the existing taxi operators.
Express Group was established in April 1989 and operates more than 11,000 taxi units throughout Indonesia with a service area covering Jadetabek, Medan, Semarang, Surabaya, Padang, Bali and Lombok.
Since established in 2009 to launch Uber in hundreds of cities around the world, Uber has expanded globally to continuously bring people to the city where they live. Uber is currently present in more than 450 cities in 72 countries and in five cities in Indonesia - Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Bali.