Thread: Taxis likely to switch to Grab

THAILAND: Fewer conventional taxis are expected to remain in service if the Transport Ministry has its way with its draft ministerial regulation allowing the use of private cars for ride-hailing taxi services via apps.

Drivers or owners of conventional taxis carrying yellow number plates, which signify their status as public transport vehicles, are likely to switch to driving their own cars instead, according to Vithoon Naewpanich, president of the Thai Taxi Network Association.


His comment came after the cabinet this week approved a draft regulation allowing the use of private cars for ride-hailing taxi service via apps. The regulation would be a boon for GrabCar drivers who have provided the service without proper legal status for years.

Under the regulation, vehicles equipped with up to seven seats that are now registered as personal cars can double as taxis.


The Transport Ministry said the change is expected to be finalised in about a month from now.


Yesterday (May 26), Mr Vithoon cried foul over the move, saying it amounted to the government capitulating to pressure from illegal ride-hailing taxi services.


At the same time, yellow-plate taxis feel they are being punished for complying with the law. They registered legally and invested heavily to provide their service only to be put at risk of losing out to rivals, Mr Vithoon added.


There are about 80,000 yellow-plate taxis. Currently, only about 30,000 are in service because the COVID-19 pandemic has sapped demand.


“Taxi drivers feel they are being bullied by the draft regulation,” he said.


Even though he agreed with the deputy government spokeswoman, Traisuree Taisaranakul, that consumers will have greater choice, Mr Vithoon said the draft regulation spoke volumes about the government’s inability to right a wrong. He said it chose instead to pander to those who failed to comply with the law.


He said if the regulation takes effect, many yellow-plate taxis will turn to driving ride-hailing taxis with black number plates for a living. By contrast, the yellow-plate taxis are subject to a rigorous registration process. Yellow-plate taxi drivers are not happy with the regulation but they cannot gather to protest due to COVID-19 restrictions.


Giving ride-hailing taxis legal status where they can freely pick up passengers will hurt the already dwindling income of the yellow-plate taxi drivers, Mr Vithoon added. These taxis also operate their own hailing app, which shows they try to keep up with innovation and improve their service, he added.


Under the regulation, drivers are required to obtain a public transport driving licence, pass a criminal background check by the Royal Thai Police and use taxi-hailing apps certified by the Transport Ministry.


Taxis likely to switch to Grab

These taxis also operate their own hailing app, which shows they try to keep up with innovation and improve their service, he added.

Is this InDriver?

From what I understand the fares are always too high.

And normally the taxis are the worst of the options on ride-hailing apps.

Originally Posted by TheRealKW

And normally the taxis are the worst of the options on ride-hailing apps.

In Malaysia as as well - they are the least comfortable, ill-maintained etc... That was the biggest positive aside from having an app to hail a driver. At least they own the car and take care of t or they'd get bad reviews . . . same goes for their attitude . . . never had a bad experience with Grab

Originally Posted by panama hat

never had a bad experience with Grab

Except the Taxi grabs who are almost universally poorly maintained, smokey inside, outside clunkers of vehicles and drivers provide shite service.

^ Yes, of course. They get the appropriate rating and then reprimands from the company to up their game

Originally Posted by panama hat

never had a bad experience with Grab

Last time I used them in Malaysia was in Penang Georgetown to get to the airport a couple of years ago.

It cost me less than it had by conventional taxi in 1992.

Penang taxi drivers used to be absolute gougers.

Originally Posted by cyrille

It cost me less than it had by conventional taxi in 1992.

Probably didn't use the metres because f some excuse like 'standard fare o the airport'

Originally Posted by cyrille

Penang taxi drivers used to be absolute gougers.

Still are

Originally Posted by panama hat

Probably didn't use the metres because f some excuse like 'standard fare o the airport'

45 ringit five years ago

Originally Posted by cyrille

Penang taxi drivers used to be absolute gougers.

Originally Posted by panama hat

Still are

I knew some of them who were usually parked outside Jaya Restaurant on Penang road near Oriental Hotel, nice and trustworthy guys who never overcharged you. Red-White taxis.

Originally Posted by lom

45 ringit five years ago

That's double grab cost.

Originally Posted by TheRealKW

That's double grab cost.

I doubt it, it is the same price I paid when going with the white taxis which are queuing outside airport arrival and which you pay the ride for in the kiosk inside arrival. The price is fixed based on your destination.

Originally Posted by TheRealKW

That's double grab cost.

Yup - the fare I mentioned was cheaper than the price I checked the previous day as it was about 10:30 am ... so light traffic.

Try getting a discount for that from a conventional taxi.

21 riyal from Macalister.

Leaving the airport is a different story, of course. The old boys still have their rip off monopoly on that.

I have a grab vs taxi story.
2 years ago in Warsaw, I was using Grab a few times but then found myself next to an old taxi driver that looked down and out.
Although I had nothing but positive (and inexpensive) experiences with the Grab guys, I thought I'd give this guy and old fashioned metered taxi fare.
As soon as I got in and told him my destination, he pulled out. I said "What about the meter?" I want you to use the meter.
He said it was broken. I said, stop the car then and I'll get out here.
He then turned the meter on.
I was following him on google maps and saw that he was taking me a very long way around.
I told him I need to go directly to my hotel and it was the other direction.
He reluctantly turned around and headed straight towards my hotel.
Of course, when I got there, he had no change for my big denomination bill.
So, he drove me to a convenience store and waited (and let the meter running of course) while I went in to wait in line and get change.
Then he asked for a tip.
I give him a tip: I said "Tip of the day is to use Grab as they can't rip you off on any of the ways that YOU tried"
Never again unless no Grab available.
He tried ...........................and tried.................and tried. to rip me off

Originally Posted by cyrille

21 riyal from Macalister.

That's 210 ringit..

Sorry yeah.

21 Ringgit.

Originally Posted by panama hat

Probably didn't use the metres

No - and it was obvious he was a con artist.

But they know if you're standing there with luggage in the heat they hold all the cards of course

Well...not anymore.

*maniacal cackle*

Originally Posted by cyrille

But they know if you're standing there with luggage in the heat they hold all the cards of course

Cross the street outside arrival, go up to the parking place where the buses also stops. 3 ringit between the airport and Komtar/Penang Road.

Yeah, done that on arrival when on my uppers on a visa run a few times too, but from the jeti not the airport

Then the bus to the Thai consulate -

And well choked by the bus fumes in the Komtar Station.

I used to be pretty well up on the bus numbers.

Not anymore.