SG-based transport app Ryde to launch not-for-profit carpooling service in MY

Singapore-based ride hailing app Ryde will be launching not-for-profit carpooling service in Malaysia, according to media outlets such as The Star and AsiaOne. Besides Kuala Lumpur, Ryde is also looking to expand into Johor, Penang and Melaka.

Unlike its operations in Singapore, Ryde will not be taking any commission in Malaysia. Reinforcing its not-for-profit stance, the platform will only allow drivers to pick up passengers twice a day so as to not make it business-driven. Therefore, Ryde founder and CEO Terence Zou told media outlets that drivers will not be required to obtain a Passenger Service Vehicle license, which is typically mandated for e-hailing services.

The company, which has 25,000 registered drivers in Singapore, targets to hit 5,000 drivers in Malaysia by the end of year. Several hundred users have reportedly downloaded the driver’s app pre-launch and Ryde will begin processing the registrations soon. There is also an interstate version of the app, RideCity, in the pipeline.

The move aims to encourage carpooling as a communal and eco-friendly activity, rather than as a profession. The earnings can also help drivers defray their costs, said the company, who plans to engage local authorities for advice moving forward.

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