When Indonesian shipping company Go-Jek opened an office in Singapore last 12 months, sparking speculation that it would introduce its signature service here, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) denied the rumors, stating that “motorcycles used to supply transport services reminiscent of point-to-point.”
Earlier this week, a Go-Jek shareholder revealed that the Indonesian startup is bringing its Go-Car service to Singapore following news of the Grab-Uber merger. There were rumors that Go-jek would expand its operations to three Southeast Asian countries after Uber left the region.
This may very well be the time.
As reported by The Business Times, Go-Jek has been in talks with Singaporean taxi giant ComfortDelGro to explore the potential of partnering and the 2 are discussing ways of “potential partnership”. Both corporations declined to comment on the matter, stating that they don’t comment on rumors and speculation.
Uber struck a significant deal by partnering with Comfort last December, however the deal fell apart last month when the US company agreed to sell its Southeast Asia operations to Grab and exit the region entirely.
Go-Jek has opened an office in Singapore where it employs data analysts. However, observers are sure that passenger transport operations will begin here in the subsequent few months.
Go-Jek is valued at greater than $4.5 billion and has raised greater than $2 billion from investors that include Google, Tencent, JD.com, Allianz and Meituan Dianping. The company began as a motorbike taxi transportation app but has since expanded into four-wheeled taxis, on-demand and payment services in Indonesia, where it is taken into account a market leader.
Source: The Business Times | Technical breakdown | Times of the Strait
