We have seen news all over the social media claiming that ride-sharing apps like Uber and GrabCar are stealing businesses from taxi drivers. However, whoever has hailed a ride via these apps before are well aware that these services has transformed the way we commute by providing safe and comfortable ride for us to travel around.
Another cab-hailing app will be coming to town soon in order to counter the growth of these ride-sharing apps, and interestingly, the app is created by the local taxi drivers.
Introducing MesraCab, a cab-hailing app that’s currently in the works by taxi drivers. The app works like the ride-sharing apps that we are familiar with, allowing user to hail cabs.
In regards to the app, Apriman Darlis, the secretary for the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Application Taxi Drivers Association (Pertapps) commented, “This app uses 100% metered taxis which have been approved by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).”
To date over 100 taxi drivers in the Klang Valley has already signed up as MesraCab drivers. According to The Star Online, taxi drivers must have metered taxis approved by Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and must be registered at any one of Malaysia’s 23 taxi associations.
Malaysia, which is quite a saturated taxi booking app market, MesraCab may have a hard time keeping up with competitors.
Nonetheless, it was said that the app is undergoing a trial phase currently and the app will be available in the Klang Valley possibly next week. All journeys booked under the trial period are completely free of charge.
The app is set to launch officially in February 2016. When MesraCab is fully operational, users will be charged a RM2 booking fee for each successful ride.
We will have to wait till next year to see how MesraCab fares in the public transportation industry. Would I use it? A big yes, simply because of the free trial.