Those clowns are clueless.
With all the heat on them they need to be seen doing something/anything. So they just chin chai made a bet and pray for the best.
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HOLY CRAP: ComfortDelGro to buy 51% of Uber's car rental business in SG!!!
- Thread starter micromachine
- Start date
Those clowns are clueless.
With all the heat on them they need to be seen doing something/anything. So they just chin chai made a bet and pray for the best.
You mean buy over competition and back to monopoly? seriously?
What i see is a buy over from a failing business and Grab is there to screw them further. Grab will grow and be stronger and stronger around this region.
That is my exact sentiment as well. They can't be bother with all the issues and enjoy their fat paycheck instead.
my uncle say that's why he prefer to setaside $100k of $1mil to bet in casino and deposit $900k in term deposit. He say this is safer than betting blindly.
No from what I heard. It was a reaction to GE2015 sentiments and there was fear that the Taxi drivers will wither strike or go-slow like SMRT bus drivers. Note that OYK was the advisor and executive director of the Transport Union when he was in NTUC an promptly quit NTUC and the strike took place while he was serving notice.
In the past, Taxi Drivers operated their associations within each constituency and they actually had a place on CCC wider community attending the monthly meetings. Some may recall they used to have a association kiosk near a bus terminus. I think that last one was at Changi Point facing the carpark where SBS No. 2 ends.
It is probably the most high powered team that collapsed in one year. The power of Aunty Ho.
In the past, Taxi Drivers operated their associations within each constituency and they actually had a place on CCC wider community attending the monthly meetings. Some may recall they used to have a association kiosk near a bus terminus. I think that last one was at Changi Point facing the carpark where SBS No. 2 ends.
It is probably the most high powered team that collapsed in one year. The power of Aunty Ho.
Just watch the taxi space and see how this evolves. To me and reading from the comments in this thread, the feeling is that they are "clueless", lost, signs of desperation etc.
The Singapore cabinet want to look advanced, cutting edge, suave, smart nation etc and they cannot do so without letting in the likes of Silicon Valley. Our start-ups have failed miserably. The Cabinet is also stuck when Aunty Ho invested in Grab. They therefore cannot protect Comfort's monopoly so this was the only solution they know.
Imagine investing 51% in an entity that lost quarter of a million dollars.
End of the day, like the numerous losses suffered by Temasek and GIC in Banking, this would be swept under the carpet.
The labour movement also has it own political funding source - Singapore Labour Foundation. Its a stat board but very secretive and mysterious. It also has large investment portfolio running into billions. Its funds the unions and union leaders from the SLO books which ensures that these do not appear in the union books which may be open to scrutiny by union members. For example, SLO would fund scholarships for family members of key unionists who are also PAP members. Thats how you buy loyalty. The union members who are usually lowly paid staff happily follow their leaders carry the PAP flag while not realising that their leaders and families are travelling overseas on SLO funds.
The Singapore cabinet want to look advanced, cutting edge, suave, smart nation etc and they cannot do so without letting in the likes of Silicon Valley. Our start-ups have failed miserably. The Cabinet is also stuck when Aunty Ho invested in Grab. They therefore cannot protect Comfort's monopoly so this was the only solution they know.
Imagine investing 51% in an entity that lost quarter of a million dollars.
End of the day, like the numerous losses suffered by Temasek and GIC in Banking, this would be swept under the carpet.
The labour movement also has it own political funding source - Singapore Labour Foundation. Its a stat board but very secretive and mysterious. It also has large investment portfolio running into billions. Its funds the unions and union leaders from the SLO books which ensures that these do not appear in the union books which may be open to scrutiny by union members. For example, SLO would fund scholarships for family members of key unionists who are also PAP members. Thats how you buy loyalty. The union members who are usually lowly paid staff happily follow their leaders carry the PAP flag while not realising that their leaders and families are travelling overseas on SLO funds.
Thanks Bro, thats the one.
Years ago I was surprised how they can be influential in CCCs meetings. The guy turned up with files and was fully engaged with all aspects of CCC debate. He spoke in Hokkein thru out. I was impressed. He was clearly aligned with PAP. The secretary of the CCC was a medical doctor in his 30s in private practice and he was certainly differing to this chap while the Chair was trying to get everyone to have his or her share of the platform.
Years ago I was surprised how they can be influential in CCCs meetings. The guy turned up with files and was fully engaged with all aspects of CCC debate. He spoke in Hokkein thru out. I was impressed. He was clearly aligned with PAP. The secretary of the CCC was a medical doctor in his 30s in private practice and he was certainly differing to this chap while the Chair was trying to get everyone to have his or her share of the platform.
something like this?
Trying to act cute when you can't form any sensible logic. Well done.
Cannot compete then buy over....
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/comfortdelgro-ties-ryde-taxi-bookings
If the bunch of monkeys at CDG are any good, they wouldn't have wasted a number of months attempting to join force with industry 'small boy' Ryde.
Sinkee voters voted for a system that allow a public transport provider to squander 620 million on a app that even me also don’t want to download.
Amazing that CDG as a public transport provider can “choot chew” SGD 620 million so heavy and Not a single question being asked. Pappies MP sleeping? Grassroots sleeping? Sinkees peasants not sleeping but pretend to sleep.
btw Uber is illegal in many parts of Thailand.
Amazing that CDG as a public transport provider can “choot chew” SGD 620 million so heavy and Not a single question being asked. Pappies MP sleeping? Grassroots sleeping? Sinkees peasants not sleeping but pretend to sleep.
btw Uber is illegal in many parts of Thailand.
This is how badly messed up NTUC Comfort is.
Ang Wei Neng, a PAP MP and 7th PAP MP thrown into this looming disaster took all of 2 weeks to do the tie-up with local start-up Ryde after his appointment as CEO of NTUC Taxi in 5th May 2017
Less than 3 months later in August, NTUC announces to the World they are in talks to Uber about a possible tie-up.
Long before that Grab had already tied with the remaining 5 taxi operators.
Ang Wei Neng, a PAP MP and 7th PAP MP thrown into this looming disaster took all of 2 weeks to do the tie-up with local start-up Ryde after his appointment as CEO of NTUC Taxi in 5th May 2017
Less than 3 months later in August, NTUC announces to the World they are in talks to Uber about a possible tie-up.
Long before that Grab had already tied with the remaining 5 taxi operators.
Comfort's alliance with Uber
CIMB reports that as of 16th Dec LCR's net debt is at SGD1b.
The winners in this deal are the riders and drivers. Uber & Grab will go all out to incentivise drivers and riders.
CIMB reports that as of 16th Dec LCR's net debt is at SGD1b.
The winners in this deal are the riders and drivers. Uber & Grab will go all out to incentivise drivers and riders.
Agree. This is going to be interesting. Much of the $620m from the tie-up with Uber will partly go towards funding the incentives. Grab already has funding lined up from its investors.
In Uber previous strategy in the US, Uber crucified the drivers in the later years by reducing their income and providing discounted rides. In Singapore it is a battle to retain drivers and capture market share.
Grab made the first moves in acquiring partnership (drivers) and then it went on the offensive with their incentives to capture CDG drivers which was a successful campaigns and twice extended.
Ps. Wow LCR's debt is mind boggling.
In Uber previous strategy in the US, Uber crucified the drivers in the later years by reducing their income and providing discounted rides. In Singapore it is a battle to retain drivers and capture market share.
Grab made the first moves in acquiring partnership (drivers) and then it went on the offensive with their incentives to capture CDG drivers which was a successful campaigns and twice extended.
Ps. Wow LCR's debt is mind boggling.
Uber deal inadequate to turn ComfortDelGro around: Analysts
By KENNETH CHENG
ComfortDelGro announced it will buy over 51 per cent of Uber’s car-rental arm in Singapore, which runs Lion City Rentals with a fleet of about 14,000 vehicles. TODAY file photo.
Published08 DECEMBER, 2017
UPDATED 09 DECEMBER, 2017
On Friday (Dec 8), ComfortDelGro, Singapore’s largest taxi operator, announced it will buy over 51 per cent of Lion City Holdings, Uber’s car-rental arm in Singapore, which runs Lion City Rentals with a fleet of about 14,000 vehicles.
Transport economist Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences said the future of mobility platforms lies in algorithms, data and technology that match travel supply with demand — and “not in the business of owning large fleets”.
Subject to regulatory approval, the S$642 million deal will allow ComfortDelGro’s taxi drivers to take bookings via Uber’s app.
Intense competition — not least from ride-sharing companies such as Grab — has dented ComfortDelGro’s bottomlines in recent months.
In the third quarter of this year, revenues for its taxi business tumbled 11.2 per cent year-on-year, the company announced last month.
Dr Theseira said the deal was a “clear win” for Uber, since it was giving up a majority stake in a company with “rapidly depreciating vehicle assets”, which it is struggling to rent out and do not offer good returns on capital.
However, it remains unclear how ComfortDelGro, which is already struggling with renting its taxis profitably, stands to gain by adding more such vehicles, said Dr Theseira.
“On the surface of things, what it really appears to be (for ComfortDelGro) is a doubling down on the part of the business which has proved to be most challenging — fleet management operations and rentals … it’s frankly the business of the past.”
“It’s not clear that this represents the kind of move that ComfortDelGro needs to stay relevant,” he added.
That said, ComfortDelGro chief executive Yang Ban Seng had hinted in the press statement announcing the move that the firm will “benefit from Uber’s world-class technology”, but did not elaborate.
The two companies noted that they were putting the finishing touches on other unspecified partnership opportunities.
Assistant Professor Terence Fan, a transport specialist with the Singapore Management University, said Uber would benefit from the move, as it was “able to get some cash out of Lion City Holdings”, the profitability and growth potential of which were unclear.
Tying up with a sizeable operator like ComfortDelGro also helps Uber counteract its rival Grab’s “grip on the other smaller taxi companies”, said Asst Prof Fan.
In March, five taxi operators — Trans-Cab, SMRT Taxis, Premier Taxis, Prime Taxi and HDT Singapore Taxi — joined hands with Grab to roll out JustGrab, a fixed-fare service subject to dynamic pricing.
For ComfortDelGro, the move could give it more insight into and latitude over how Lion City Rentals runs, including tamping down rental deals that could slow down the movement of taxi drivers to the private-hire car market, said Asst Prof Fan.
“It’s a way to defend its core business,” he said.
The latest move seems to have cleaved the market into two camps: Uber and ComfortDelGro, pitched against Grab and its five partner taxi operators.
Dr Theseira said such consolidation was inevitable in a “winner-takes-all” industry.
“As long as … Grab and Uber have the money to make their dreams a reality, it was inevitable that they’d get to this point, either by killing the competitor (through) forcing them out of business or buying them over, (although in this deal) it’s the reverse because ComfortDelGro is buying a part of Uber’s business,” he explained.
Going forward, Dr Theseira said there was a “reasonable possibility” Grab and Uber would have to team up, because none will turn a profit as long as either party remains willing to splash money to stay ahead.
Asst Prof Fan said the consolidation also makes it difficult for new entrants to penetrate the market, and it would be a market for “consumers and drivers” if the Uber and Grab camps continue to compete aggressively.
MIXED REACTIONS FROM DRIVERS
Meanwhile, Comfort drivers who spoke to TODAY were mixed on the move.
Cabbie Tan Sing Huat, 47, said taking on bookings via Uber’s app will help. “Any added options will be an advantage to drivers and good for passengers … more bookings mean more choices (for drivers),” he said.
Agreeing, a fellow driver, who gave his name only as Mr Ismail, 50, said he looked forward to “more jobs”, although he noted that he already receives ample bookings from Comfort’s booking system daily.
On the other hand, taxi driver Andy Kwan, 35, who drives a Comfort limousine cab, said the tie-up would not work, noting that the fares Uber offers are typically lower than taxis’ metered fares.
He said he would accept bookings only if the fares were “justifiable” or if ComfortDelGro lowers its rental rates.
Noting the significantly lower vehicle rents private-hire car drivers pay, Mr Kwan, whose rental bill is S$180 daily, said: “(Uber drivers) can afford to accept those S$5, S$8 or S$12 fares. But at the taxi company, we’re paying S$110 at least for the taxi rental (a day), excluding fuel … We can’t even accept those fares. I would rather pass on the fare.”
By KENNETH CHENG
ComfortDelGro announced it will buy over 51 per cent of Uber’s car-rental arm in Singapore, which runs Lion City Rentals with a fleet of about 14,000 vehicles. TODAY file photo.
Published08 DECEMBER, 2017
UPDATED 09 DECEMBER, 2017
On Friday (Dec 8), ComfortDelGro, Singapore’s largest taxi operator, announced it will buy over 51 per cent of Lion City Holdings, Uber’s car-rental arm in Singapore, which runs Lion City Rentals with a fleet of about 14,000 vehicles.
Transport economist Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences said the future of mobility platforms lies in algorithms, data and technology that match travel supply with demand — and “not in the business of owning large fleets”.
Subject to regulatory approval, the S$642 million deal will allow ComfortDelGro’s taxi drivers to take bookings via Uber’s app.
Intense competition — not least from ride-sharing companies such as Grab — has dented ComfortDelGro’s bottomlines in recent months.
In the third quarter of this year, revenues for its taxi business tumbled 11.2 per cent year-on-year, the company announced last month.
Dr Theseira said the deal was a “clear win” for Uber, since it was giving up a majority stake in a company with “rapidly depreciating vehicle assets”, which it is struggling to rent out and do not offer good returns on capital.
However, it remains unclear how ComfortDelGro, which is already struggling with renting its taxis profitably, stands to gain by adding more such vehicles, said Dr Theseira.
“On the surface of things, what it really appears to be (for ComfortDelGro) is a doubling down on the part of the business which has proved to be most challenging — fleet management operations and rentals … it’s frankly the business of the past.”
“It’s not clear that this represents the kind of move that ComfortDelGro needs to stay relevant,” he added.
That said, ComfortDelGro chief executive Yang Ban Seng had hinted in the press statement announcing the move that the firm will “benefit from Uber’s world-class technology”, but did not elaborate.
The two companies noted that they were putting the finishing touches on other unspecified partnership opportunities.
Assistant Professor Terence Fan, a transport specialist with the Singapore Management University, said Uber would benefit from the move, as it was “able to get some cash out of Lion City Holdings”, the profitability and growth potential of which were unclear.
Tying up with a sizeable operator like ComfortDelGro also helps Uber counteract its rival Grab’s “grip on the other smaller taxi companies”, said Asst Prof Fan.
In March, five taxi operators — Trans-Cab, SMRT Taxis, Premier Taxis, Prime Taxi and HDT Singapore Taxi — joined hands with Grab to roll out JustGrab, a fixed-fare service subject to dynamic pricing.
For ComfortDelGro, the move could give it more insight into and latitude over how Lion City Rentals runs, including tamping down rental deals that could slow down the movement of taxi drivers to the private-hire car market, said Asst Prof Fan.
“It’s a way to defend its core business,” he said.
The latest move seems to have cleaved the market into two camps: Uber and ComfortDelGro, pitched against Grab and its five partner taxi operators.
Dr Theseira said such consolidation was inevitable in a “winner-takes-all” industry.
“As long as … Grab and Uber have the money to make their dreams a reality, it was inevitable that they’d get to this point, either by killing the competitor (through) forcing them out of business or buying them over, (although in this deal) it’s the reverse because ComfortDelGro is buying a part of Uber’s business,” he explained.
Going forward, Dr Theseira said there was a “reasonable possibility” Grab and Uber would have to team up, because none will turn a profit as long as either party remains willing to splash money to stay ahead.
Asst Prof Fan said the consolidation also makes it difficult for new entrants to penetrate the market, and it would be a market for “consumers and drivers” if the Uber and Grab camps continue to compete aggressively.
MIXED REACTIONS FROM DRIVERS
Meanwhile, Comfort drivers who spoke to TODAY were mixed on the move.
Cabbie Tan Sing Huat, 47, said taking on bookings via Uber’s app will help. “Any added options will be an advantage to drivers and good for passengers … more bookings mean more choices (for drivers),” he said.
Agreeing, a fellow driver, who gave his name only as Mr Ismail, 50, said he looked forward to “more jobs”, although he noted that he already receives ample bookings from Comfort’s booking system daily.
On the other hand, taxi driver Andy Kwan, 35, who drives a Comfort limousine cab, said the tie-up would not work, noting that the fares Uber offers are typically lower than taxis’ metered fares.
He said he would accept bookings only if the fares were “justifiable” or if ComfortDelGro lowers its rental rates.
Noting the significantly lower vehicle rents private-hire car drivers pay, Mr Kwan, whose rental bill is S$180 daily, said: “(Uber drivers) can afford to accept those S$5, S$8 or S$12 fares. But at the taxi company, we’re paying S$110 at least for the taxi rental (a day), excluding fuel … We can’t even accept those fares. I would rather pass on the fare.”
Uber tie-up inadequate to turn beleaguered ComfortDelGro around: Analysts
SINGAPORE - As things stand, the deal between ComfortDelGro and Uber appears inadequate to turn the taxi operator’s bleeding business around, experts said.
On Friday (Dec 8), ComfortDelGro, Singapore’s largest taxi operator, announced it will buy over 51 per cent of Lion City Holdings, Uber’s car-rental arm in Singapore, which runs Lion City Rentals with a fleet of about 14,000 vehicles.
Transport economist Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences said the future of mobility platforms lies in algorithms, data and technology that match travel supply with demand - and “not in the business of owning large fleets”.
Subject to regulatory approval, the S$642 million deal will allow ComfortDelGro’s taxi drivers to take bookings via Uber’s app.
Intense competition - not least from ride-sharing companies such as Grab - has dented ComfortDelGro’s bottom-line in recent months.
In the third quarter of this year, revenues for its taxi business tumbled 11.2 per cent year-on-year, the company announced last month.
Dr Theseira said the deal was a “clear win” for Uber, since it was giving up a majority stake in a company with “rapidly depreciating vehicle assets”, which it is struggling to rent out and do not offer good returns on capital.
However, it remains unclear how ComfortDelGro, which is already struggling with renting its taxis profitably, stands to gain by adding more such vehicles, said Dr Theseira.
“On the surface of things, what it really appears to be (for ComfortDelGro) is a doubling down on the part of the business which has proved to be most challenging - fleet management operations and rentals … it’s frankly the business of the past.”
“It’s not clear that this represents the kind of move that ComfortDelGro needs to stay relevant,” he added.
That said, ComfortDelGro chief executive Yang Ban Seng had hinted in the press statement announcing the move that the firm will “benefit from Uber’s world-class technology”, but did not elaborate.
The two companies noted that they were putting the finishing touches on other unspecified partnership opportunities.
Assistant Professor Terence Fan, a transport specialist with the Singapore Management University, said Uber would benefit from the move, as it was “able to get some cash out of Lion City Holdings”, the profitability and growth potential of which were unclear.
Tying up with a sizeable operator like ComfortDelGro also helps Uber counteract its rival Grab’s “grip on the other smaller taxi companies”, said Asst Prof Fan.
In March, five taxi operators - Trans-Cab, SMRT Taxis, Premier Taxis, Prime Taxi and HDT Singapore Taxi - joined hands with Grab to roll out JustGrab, a fixed-fare service subject to dynamic pricing.
For ComfortDelGro, the move could give it more insight into and latitude over how Lion City Rentals runs, including tamping down rental deals that could slow down the movement of taxi drivers to the private-hire car market, said Asst Prof Fan.
“It’s a way to defend its core business,” he said.
The latest move seems to have cleaved the market into two camps: Uber and ComfortDelGro, pitched against Grab and its five partner taxi operators.
Dr Theseira said such consolidation was inevitable in a “winner-takes-all” industry.
“As long as … Grab and Uber have the money to make their dreams a reality, it was inevitable that they’d get to this point, either by killing the competitor (through) forcing them out of business or buying them over, (although in this deal) it’s the reverse because ComfortDelGro is buying a part of Uber’s business,” he explained.
Going forward, Dr Theseira said there was a “reasonable possibility” Grab and Uber would have to team up, because none will turn a profit as long as either party remains willing to splash money to stay ahead.
Asst Prof Fan said the consolidation also makes it difficult for new entrants to penetrate the market, and it would be a market for “consumers and drivers” if the Uber and Grab camps continue to compete aggressively.
MIXED REACTIONS FROM DRIVERS
Meanwhile, Comfort drivers who spoke to TODAY were mixed on the move.
Cabbie Tan Sing Huat, 47, said taking on bookings via Uber’s app will help. “Any added options will be an advantage to drivers and good for passengers … more bookings mean more choices (for drivers),” he said.
Agreeing, a fellow driver, who gave his name only as Mr Ismail, 50, said he looked forward to “more jobs”, although he noted that he already receives ample bookings from Comfort’s booking system daily.
On the other hand, taxi driver Andy Kwan, 35, who drives a Comfort limousine cab, said the tie-up would not work, noting that the fares Uber offers are typically lower than taxis’ metered fares.
He said he would accept bookings only if the fares were “justifiable” or if ComfortDelGro lowers its rental rates.
Noting the significantly lower vehicle rents private-hire car drivers pay, Mr Kwan, whose rental bill is S$180 daily, said: “(Uber drivers) can afford to accept those S$5, S$8 or S$12 fares. But at the taxi company, we’re paying S$110 at least for the taxi rental (a day), excluding fuel … We can’t even accept those fares. I would rather pass on the fare.”
SINGAPORE - As things stand, the deal between ComfortDelGro and Uber appears inadequate to turn the taxi operator’s bleeding business around, experts said.
On Friday (Dec 8), ComfortDelGro, Singapore’s largest taxi operator, announced it will buy over 51 per cent of Lion City Holdings, Uber’s car-rental arm in Singapore, which runs Lion City Rentals with a fleet of about 14,000 vehicles.
Transport economist Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences said the future of mobility platforms lies in algorithms, data and technology that match travel supply with demand - and “not in the business of owning large fleets”.
Subject to regulatory approval, the S$642 million deal will allow ComfortDelGro’s taxi drivers to take bookings via Uber’s app.
Intense competition - not least from ride-sharing companies such as Grab - has dented ComfortDelGro’s bottom-line in recent months.
In the third quarter of this year, revenues for its taxi business tumbled 11.2 per cent year-on-year, the company announced last month.
Dr Theseira said the deal was a “clear win” for Uber, since it was giving up a majority stake in a company with “rapidly depreciating vehicle assets”, which it is struggling to rent out and do not offer good returns on capital.
However, it remains unclear how ComfortDelGro, which is already struggling with renting its taxis profitably, stands to gain by adding more such vehicles, said Dr Theseira.
“On the surface of things, what it really appears to be (for ComfortDelGro) is a doubling down on the part of the business which has proved to be most challenging - fleet management operations and rentals … it’s frankly the business of the past.”
“It’s not clear that this represents the kind of move that ComfortDelGro needs to stay relevant,” he added.
That said, ComfortDelGro chief executive Yang Ban Seng had hinted in the press statement announcing the move that the firm will “benefit from Uber’s world-class technology”, but did not elaborate.
The two companies noted that they were putting the finishing touches on other unspecified partnership opportunities.
Assistant Professor Terence Fan, a transport specialist with the Singapore Management University, said Uber would benefit from the move, as it was “able to get some cash out of Lion City Holdings”, the profitability and growth potential of which were unclear.
Tying up with a sizeable operator like ComfortDelGro also helps Uber counteract its rival Grab’s “grip on the other smaller taxi companies”, said Asst Prof Fan.
In March, five taxi operators - Trans-Cab, SMRT Taxis, Premier Taxis, Prime Taxi and HDT Singapore Taxi - joined hands with Grab to roll out JustGrab, a fixed-fare service subject to dynamic pricing.
For ComfortDelGro, the move could give it more insight into and latitude over how Lion City Rentals runs, including tamping down rental deals that could slow down the movement of taxi drivers to the private-hire car market, said Asst Prof Fan.
“It’s a way to defend its core business,” he said.
The latest move seems to have cleaved the market into two camps: Uber and ComfortDelGro, pitched against Grab and its five partner taxi operators.
Dr Theseira said such consolidation was inevitable in a “winner-takes-all” industry.
“As long as … Grab and Uber have the money to make their dreams a reality, it was inevitable that they’d get to this point, either by killing the competitor (through) forcing them out of business or buying them over, (although in this deal) it’s the reverse because ComfortDelGro is buying a part of Uber’s business,” he explained.
Going forward, Dr Theseira said there was a “reasonable possibility” Grab and Uber would have to team up, because none will turn a profit as long as either party remains willing to splash money to stay ahead.
Asst Prof Fan said the consolidation also makes it difficult for new entrants to penetrate the market, and it would be a market for “consumers and drivers” if the Uber and Grab camps continue to compete aggressively.
MIXED REACTIONS FROM DRIVERS
Meanwhile, Comfort drivers who spoke to TODAY were mixed on the move.
Cabbie Tan Sing Huat, 47, said taking on bookings via Uber’s app will help. “Any added options will be an advantage to drivers and good for passengers … more bookings mean more choices (for drivers),” he said.
Agreeing, a fellow driver, who gave his name only as Mr Ismail, 50, said he looked forward to “more jobs”, although he noted that he already receives ample bookings from Comfort’s booking system daily.
On the other hand, taxi driver Andy Kwan, 35, who drives a Comfort limousine cab, said the tie-up would not work, noting that the fares Uber offers are typically lower than taxis’ metered fares.
He said he would accept bookings only if the fares were “justifiable” or if ComfortDelGro lowers its rental rates.
Noting the significantly lower vehicle rents private-hire car drivers pay, Mr Kwan, whose rental bill is S$180 daily, said: “(Uber drivers) can afford to accept those S$5, S$8 or S$12 fares. But at the taxi company, we’re paying S$110 at least for the taxi rental (a day), excluding fuel … We can’t even accept those fares. I would rather pass on the fare.”
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