SINGAPORE: GrabCab will be Singapore’s sixth taxi operator after it received a licence to run street-hail services.
Announcing this on Wednesday (Apr 2), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said GrabCab will be given a three-year grace period to progressively expand its fleet to meet the minimum requirement of 800 taxis.
It must also ensure that its taxis are easily identifiable by street-hail customers, including having a prominent rooftop sign and a distinctive livery scheme.
GrabCab is a subsidiary of Grab Rentals and the sister company of GrabCar, which holds licences to operate ride-hail and car-pool services.
The new street-hail licence will start on Apr 9 and is valid for 10 years.
“GrabCab’s entry into the street-hail sector brings the total number of taxi operators to six, providing drivers and commuters with more choices and is expected to boost taxi supply,” said LTA.
The other current taxi operators are CityCab, CDG, Prime, Strides and Trans-cab.
As part of the licensing conditions, which are similar to those of other taxi operators, GrabCab must meet requirements such as having sufficient boot space to carry a folded wheelchair or luggage.
Its street-hail services must also follow the same taxi fare structure components as other street-hail operators, said LTA, and its fare must be prominently displayed so that passengers are informed of the applicable fare rates.
