UBER Technologies, Inc. is considering reviving its motorcycle service in Southeast Asia, where traffic jams are a common occurrence in major cities.
Using Indonesia as an example, Uber General Manager for Southeast Asia Chan Park said most commuters prefer motorcycles as a mode of public transport, which they plan to integrate in their services soon.
“We have not only thought of launching motorbikes, but we absolutely have to think about how traffic is such a big thing (in Southeast Asia). Your usual pick-up locations are usually in malls and offices so (we have to understand) what does that mean for your pick-up experience,” Mr. Park said in a presentation at the recent 2017 CEO Conference at Makati Shangri-La hotel.
Early last year, Uber launched UberMoto in Bangkok but this was suspended after three months along with Grab’s similar service, due to competition with other motorcycle taxi companies. GrabBike, however, still operates in some parts of Southeast Asia and Indonesia.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) had also rejected Uber’s plan to launch UberMoto in Cebu last May, and suspended operations of GrabBike.
Meanwhile, Uber is looking to replicate in Asia the subsidized commuter program it launched in Summit, New Jersey.
Under the program, Uber offered cheap rides to and from the Summit station for commuters who opt not to use their parking passes. The program, which was subsidized by the town’s government, was aimed at reducing congestion at the station’s parking lots.
“It’s like every partnership we have to find what they are trying to achieve and what they care about and what we care about. We will talk to some senators […] for the government and Uber to work together and the subsidization is only one part of it,” Mr. Park said.
Uber said the town saved $15 million to be used in building parking lots, in exchange for $167,000 allocated for subsidized Uber rides for commuters. — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato
