Grab to become Singapore's sixth taxi operator after being awarded street-hail operator licence

Grab has been awarded a street-hail operator licence and will become the sixth taxi operator in Singapore.

The street-hail operator licence was awarded to GrabCab, a subsidiary of Grab’s rental arm, GrabRentals. The licence will start on 9 April and is valid for 10 years.

GrabCab will then become the sixth taxi operator in Singapore after Comfort, CityCab, Trans-Cab, Strides Premier, and Prime. 

GrabCab will have three years to progressively expand its fleet to meet the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) minimum fleet size requirement of 800 taxis. 

In a statement on 2 April, the LTA said that GrabCab’s entry into the taxi operator industry will provide drivers and passengers with more choices and is expected to boost the supply of taxis.

GrabCab will also have to conform to the LTA’s requirements on vehicle choice for their taxi fleet, with taxis required to comply with safety standards and have enough boot space to fit a folded wheelchair or luggage.

GrabCab must also ensure that its taxis will be easily identifiable by street-hailing customers by having a prominent roof-top sign and a distinctive livery.

The LTA also said that GrabCab’s street-hail services must follow the same taxi fare structure components as the existing taxi operators and prominently display them, so that passengers are informed and aware of the applicable fares.

Grab has said that its licence will allow it to introduce a taxi fleet to complement the private-hire cars already on its platform, enabling them to address unmet consumer demand and improve ride availability, particularly during peak hours, late nights, and in areas only accessible by taxis. 

Grab also mentioned that, in the coming months, it will launch a GrabCab fleet featuring popular low and zero-emission hybrid and electric vehicles from leading manufacturers.

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