Grab Launches Motorbike-Hailing Pilot Program

Just weeks after the local Malaysian ride-hailing firm Gojek announced limited operations on motorbike services, hailing giant Grab catches up. The dominant service said it was in line with the Transport Ministry’s approval for pilot programs for six months.

Five-year-old motorcycles and above are not allowed to operate, and its driver should both be 18 and have a driver’s license. Riders may not ferry more than one passenger.

The operators should also expect to handle food delivery orders that aren’t cake or pizza.

Riders will get a smaller delivery bag and will participate in specialized training.

Additionally, the GrabBike partners will pay a 20% commission from their cash wallet and cannot decline ride requests. However, they can turn off requests for food deliveries.

The pilot service is limited to the country’s most developed region, Klang Valley. Its riders will receive incentives for the first month, like a uniform jacket and a helmet for their passengers.

The Malaysian government and participating firms expect to gather and evaluate data and demand. Officials will work on legislation to govern bike-hailing.

More of Grab’s Recent Loses

Meanwhile, Grab recently announced the discontinuation of its GrabShuttle service on January 1, 2020. The company claims the decision will enable them to “redirect efforts” to improve its better money-making operations.

GrabShuttle was a separate app from the service’s much larger one. In the app, schoolchildren-focused GrabShuttle for School will also close with GrabShuttle Plus, a stop-to-stop service with no definite routes.

Relatively, an app from the Land Transport Authority and Infocomm Development Authority called that the Beeline will shut down. Beeline lets users book bus rides from crowdsourced route suggestions.

Unused credits by the end date will transfer back to users’ credit cards.

GrabCoach, on the other hand, will still be available. The service allows users to rent buses for 9-40 passengers and is offered as an option in the larger app.

The leading e-hailing service in Southeast Asia also recently ended some subscription options.

The Commute Plans option offers ride discounts at three different price points. It offers Lite, Basic, and Extra versions in consecutive tiers.

Grab’s All-Access Plan gave subscribers ride and GrabFood discounts, as well as free GrabFood delivery at $25/month.

Both operations will cease from December 16, 2019.

Grab Launches and Plans

Grab is currently testing a new set of subscription plans that are more inclined to users’ behavior and needs.

The company’s head of marketing Gillian Ang said their primary audience, the Millennials, will increase demand for experience-led offerings. Particularly Singaporean Millennials are more likely to prefer brands that provide “good service, personalization, and innovation.”

GrabPay Dealbook: Gourmet Tribe Edition launched in Singapore early October, which offers 100 1-for-1 dining deals in certain restaurants. Its promotional price starts at $14.90, half of the usual $30.

Singapore’s first bubble tea subscription plan launched on October 18. Grab users can subscribe for vouchers at several famous bubble tea franchises for half the price per cup.

For its first month, GrabPay users bought $3 discount vouchers for $9, but new users can buy them for $4 less.

Grab seeks user feedback to asses subscription plans and their usability as an “imperative measure” before rolling out other plans.