Heavy crackdown looms on Uber, ride-sharing apps

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buksida
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Heavy crackdown looms on Uber, ride-sharing apps

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The Land Transport Department is planning to propose the use of Article 44 of the interim charter to close the Uber app as well as other ride-sharing apps.

Deputy director-general Nanthapong Cherdchu said a sting operation on Monday in Bangkok had led to 18 Uber drivers being nabbed and each was fined Bt2,000.

He said the agency must try to make Thais understand that the use of Uber was illegal and if any accident happened, a customer would receive less protection under the law. He called for improvement of the Thai taxi service to make them more attractive to users. "We may need a stronger medicine; we might propose the use of Article 44 to close this [Uber] app, as it is destroying the public transport system in the area," he added.

In the northern province of Chiang Mai, there was a conflict between Uber-Grab car drivers and the "Red Car" Songthaew drivers - the latter had recently joined provincial land transport officials to launch a sting operation to catch and fine the app-affiliated drivers.

Meanwhile, a Chiang Mai-based consumer campaign was launched on March 3 to gather signatures via the website Change.org for a petition, which will be submitted to the Land Transport Department, calling for regulation and improvement in the quality of the "Red Car" service and to oppose the arrest of Uber-Grab car drivers. So far, 8,315 supporters have signed this online petition out of 10,000 needed.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/br ... s/30308170
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Re: Heavy crackdown looms on Uber, ride-sharing apps

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Well, if the locals gave a half decent service instead of a rude self-entitled load of garbage...which, ironically, an online petition was signed by over 8k people in the last week about exactly this regarding these 'red cabs' in Chang Mai, then they might have a leg to stand on.

Just the mafia getting pissed about someone challenging their long standing aweful service that they can't just shoot or make disappear in traditional way.
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Re: Heavy crackdown looms on Uber, ride-sharing apps

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Ministry asks Uber to stop services temporarily pending 6-12 months study
in Business March 21, 2017 By Thai PBS Reporters

The Ministry of Transport has asked Uber Thailand to halt its taxi service temporarily pending a comparative study of the taxi service via mobile applications in other countries.
The ministry’s deputy permanent secretary Somsak Hommuang said the ministry is in the process of hiring an experienced company to conduct study of the use of mobile technology in calling taxi service.

He said the ministry needs to know everything from the standards of vehicles to be used, supervision of drivers, service users, as well as taxation with comparison with services in other countries which such services are in operation, such as in Malaysia and Singapore.

He said the study will take 6-12 months so as to see to it whether existing laws needed to be revised or not, or a new pattern of passenger service is necessary.

During the study period, he said the ministry would seek cooperation from Uber to stop service temporarily.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/minist ... ths-study/
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Re: Heavy crackdown looms on Uber, ride-sharing apps

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Ride-sharing rage
Asia is embracing the likes of Uber and Grab as Thailand continues to grapple with regulating the surging industry.

Five years in, ride-sharing continues to be a point of contention for regulators and consumers alike -- passenger safety, car insurance and dynamic pricing are still heavily debated.

Taxi associations have taken the fight against these transport startups' purportedly unfair advantages to the streets, blocking ride-sharing vehicles and bullying their drivers.

The association believes Thailand should not condone an unregulated ride-hailing industry as its digital economy plan calls for a regulatory system that adapts to the dynamic nature of the transport industry, not one that promotes tension within it.

The technology is developing quickly -- passengers can now choose between a variety of vehicles or price points, or even hop in self-driven vehicles. The latest trend is perhaps the move from individual bookings to carpooling.

"Governments around Asia are increasingly embracing ride-sharing because they can see the benefits it brings for riders, drivers and cities," says Damian Kassabgi, Asia-Pacific head of policy at Uber Technologies Inc.

"Thailand risks being left behind by its neighbours if it continues to block and ignore the hundreds of thousands of citizens who use Uber. We would like Thailand to join the scores of countries that have successfully regulated ride-sharing."

More: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transpo ... aring-rage
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Re: Heavy crackdown looms on Uber, ride-sharing apps

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UBER TIPPED TO PULL OUT OF SOUTHEAST ASIA
Uber is considering pulling out of Southeast Asia and selling operations there to regional competitor Grab, according to news reports.

Citing unnamed sources, CNBC reported that California-based Uber could soon sell off its local division to Singapore’s Grab in exchange for shares in the company that is the dominant player in the region.

Uber has faced hostile governments and traditional taxi industries in Thailand and other countries. Thai authorities have declared it – and Grab’s passenger services – illegal, though both continue to operate.

In Southeast Asia, Uber’s ride-sharing service operates in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Grab currently operates across 178 cities in all ASEAN countries except Laos and Brunei.

Spokespeople with both Grab Thailand and Uber Thailand did not respond to inquiries as of publication time.

Since its inception, Uber Thailand has been plagued by a legal backlash and retaliation by local taxi drivers and motorcycle taxi operators. The Department of Land Transport declared the service illegal in 2014 and Uber’s motorcycle taxi service, UberMoto, was halted by the junta soon after it launched a pilot program in 2016. Taxi drivers have harassed and reported Uber drivers to the police.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/busi ... east-asia/
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Re: Heavy crackdown looms on Uber, ride-sharing apps

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It is a damn shame that some competition can't be part of the Taxi industry in Thailand. At least Grab and Uber offered some hope of improved standards and integrity amongst local Taxi Operators. Whilst in Bangkok over the weekend went to Central World on Friday night and decided to take a Taxi from the Hotel rather than deal with associated traffic and parking hassles. No problems on the trip there, however totally different situation around 10pm when we were looking to return. About 20 taxis ranked but non prepared to use the meter and looking for a 250 baht fare for what was originally an 80 baht trip in. It wasn't just Foreigners being targeted but Thais also, so much for government crackdowns on Taxis not using meters. We ended up walking towards Silom and managed to eventually get a taxi that would use the meter.
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Re: Heavy crackdown looms on Uber, ride-sharing apps

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Bluesky wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2018 5:50 pm It is a damn shame that some competition can't be part of the Taxi industry in Thailand. At least Grab and Uber offered some hope of improved standards and integrity amongst local Taxi Operators. Whilst in Bangkok over the weekend went to Central World on Friday night and decided to take a Taxi from the Hotel rather than deal with associated traffic and parking hassles. No problems on the trip there, however totally different situation around 10pm when we were looking to return. About 20 taxis ranked but non prepared to use the meter and looking for a 250 baht fare for what was originally an 80 baht trip in. It wasn't just Foreigners being targeted but Thais also, so much for government crackdowns on Taxis not using meters. We ended up walking towards Silom and managed to eventually get a taxi that would use the meter.
Agree! Used Uber and Grab in Chiang Mai, quick, easy and professional. Fares disclosed up front and no bickering about it
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Re: Heavy crackdown looms on Uber, ride-sharing apps

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Whenever I check Uber/Grab fares they are always quite a bit more than a taxi on the meter.The shame is not so much that private services are under pressure not to operate, but that the failure of the government to stop licensed taxis extorting the public. Even Thais utterly hate their taxi service.

To get a decent trip across town, why should it be necessary to use a company like Uber which only puts you in touch with unregulated private drivers, and have a reputation for hardly bothering to investigate complaints against them?
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Re: Heavy crackdown looms on Uber, ride-sharing apps

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Whenever I check Uber/Grab fares they are always quite a bit more than a taxi on the meter.
You are confusing the two. Uber use private cars, Grab is a booking service for licenced metered taxis. There is a 20 Baht booking fee, but the meter starts from your pick-up point, and you have the car number sent to your phone along when it will arrive to pick you up.
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Re: Heavy crackdown looms on Uber, ride-sharing apps

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Nereus wrote: Tue Feb 20, 2018 9:27 am
Whenever I check Uber/Grab fares they are always quite a bit more than a taxi on the meter.
You are confusing the two. Uber use private cars, Grab is a booking service for licenced metered taxis. There is a 20 Baht booking fee, but the meter starts from your pick-up point, and you have the car number sent to your phone along when it will arrive to pick you up.
Thanks Nereus. On the Grab app I still had the impression that the fare was not much different to Uber. Maybe my memory is faulty. Can't really check it today from Hua Hin! :)
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Re: Heavy crackdown looms on Uber, ride-sharing apps

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Grab uses both licensed taxis and private cars. The app lets you choose which you want. Also motorbike taxis, large cars/vans etc. All have different fares.
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Re: Heavy crackdown looms on Uber, ride-sharing apps

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In Bangkok I used Uber and Grab. On a short drive Uber was 40 Baht and Grab 112 Baht. On a longer drive Uber was nearly 600 Baht and Grab was 308 Baht. Both adjust their fees to the demand at the time of booking.
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Re: Heavy crackdown looms on Uber, ride-sharing apps

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migrant wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2018 8:01 pm

Agree! Used Uber and Grab in Chiang Mai, quick, easy and professional. Fares disclosed up front and no bickering about it
That is certainly the case in Bangkok, and as far as daughter is concerned will not use taxis when travelling alone. Whilst most are generally ok there is a proportion that are lewd, try to extract extra money, or drive in an unsafe manner. With Grab or Uber she can be picked up in areas where there are people around and taken either home or required destination by courteous and professional drivers with an audit trail on her journey. In the last two years she has not had any issues with either company. For her the matter is primarily about personal safety which, will remain an issue until the government has the courage and intestinal fortitude to 'clean up' the taxi industry.
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Re: Heavy crackdown looms on Uber, ride-sharing apps

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I'm in Chiang Mai at the moment, and have been using Uber extensively. However, the first attempt went horribly wrong. We wanted to get from our hotel to Chiang Mai University - everything looked good - 35 Baht. We were give a vehicle and registration. We could track him to the hotel, with updates as to how long he'd be. 2 minutes from us, there was a message - he couldn't come, and another vehicle was assigned. Again we tracked him, and when he was supposed to arrive, he cancelled. Even though he had cancelled, we were told the 35 Baht would be added to our next bill. Being a tight git, this P'd me right off. I got a taxi from the hotel (150 Baht :oops: ) .

When it was time to leave the uni, we gave it another go - worked like a dream, despite having to pay for the trip they cancelled as well.

We've used them a few times since, and will continue to use them. What an excellent service, and so cheap.
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Re: Heavy crackdown looms on Uber, ride-sharing apps

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GRAB BUYS UBER’S SOUTHEAST ASIA RIDESHARING BUSINESS
Fast growing ridesharing, food delivery and financial services business Grab is acquiring Uber’s Southeast Asian business operations

The company said Monday that Uber will in turn take a 27.5 percent stake in Singapore-based Grab and its CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, will join Grab’s board.

Uber has been battling challenges, with its full-year net loss widening to $4.5 billion in 2017 as it endured multiple scandals and the replacement of its CEO.

Since becoming CEO Khosrowshahi has been maneuvering to make the company profitable before a planned initial public offering expected next year.

In China, too, Uber sold off its local business to a competitor and partner, Didi Chuxing, taking a stake in Didi. In Russia, it agreed to merge its ride-hailing business in the country with Yandex, a local search-engine leader that also runs a popular taxi-booking app.

Grab now provides services in Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia. It says it is offering access to five million drivers and agents and it handles over a billion transactions a year.


http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/tran ... -business/
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