[Update, 16 November]
After speaking at a fireside chat at Singapore Fintech Festival on 14 November, Go-Jek President Andre Soelistyo answered the burning question many have been asking—when is Go-Jek launching?
While we have been waiting as the launch delayed month after month, once again, Soelistyo revealed to reporters that Go-Jek’s beta app will be here before Christmas.
In its beta-testing period, the ride-hailing firm hopes to encourage feedback on the app in order to optimise their operations “to better satisfy customers”.
Soelistyo admitted he was a “little bit scared” seeing “a lot of demand” and anticipation in Singapore for Go-Jek’s arrival. But he later clarified that he meant he was “excited” for the upcoming launch.
He also said that while Go-Jek had been growing in Indonesia for the three and a half years, the firm is starting from “ground zero” when it comes to building up operations across Southeast Asia.
Still, he says the company looks to meet the needs of daily consumers in Southeast Asia, the same way it has approached the Indonesian market.
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Since the middle of 2018, we’ve been waiting expectantly for Indonesian ride-hailing unicorn Go-Jek to launch their services in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines this September.
But September came and went, and no Go-Jek was in sight in Singapore.
Sources initially told TechCrunch that Go-Jek was set to launch here in October instead, a month later than promised.
However, Go-Jek has now come out to confirm that it has partnered 6 car rental companies in Singapore, in preparation for its arrival in November.
The ride-hailing firm may have been waiting for the result of the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS)’s investigation into the Grab-Uber merger earlier this year.
After the CCCS found the merger of the two ride-hailing giants anti-competitive and fined both parties a total of $13 million, Go-Jek said the verdict removed a “very high barrier to entry”.
“We are now confident that Singapore will have a robust, efficient and competitive market, and that our arrival will have a significantly positive impact on the lives of people in Singapore,” Go-Jek said.
With CCCS’ ruling for non-exclusivity, Go-Jek will be free to recruit Grab’s current drivers, and private hire drivers can choose to drive on more than one app.
Although the Indonesian ride-hailing firm was previously said to be in talks for a partnership with ComfortDelGro, the latest update is that Go-Jek will be entering Singapore on its own.
Vietnam was the first country they have since moved into, operating under the name of Go-Viet.
Go-Viet first started out with a partial launch covering 12 districts in Ho Chi Minh city in August, followed by a full launch in September that extended its services to Hanoi.
Go-Jek has so far started recruiting drivers in Thailand, and is seeking a permit to operate in the Philippines.
Featured Image Credit: Nikkei Asian Review