In addition to its taxi and car-sharing platforms, the Southeast Asia-focused ride-hailing company Grab has beta-launched a social carpooling service in Thailand in a bid to promote a connected ride-sharing community and ease traffic congestion.
Called GrabHitch, the service is labelled as a point-to-point service that will match drivers and passengers (who are cost-conscious) heading to the same destination.
Vee Charunansiri, business and public affairs lead of Grab Thailand, said the company does not earn money from GrabHitch service.
Fares for GrabHitch rides are set at a fixed rate of 50 baht regardless of the distance of the ride. The fare covers petrol and car depreciation costs.
GrabHitch is now open for driver sign-up. Drivers can download or update their Grab app to the latest version, which is available for free on Google Play or the App Store. To sign up, just click on the GrabHitch icon, select the Drive button and follow the instructions.
After the download has been completed, drivers will be asked to indicate their own travel routes between start and end points and average travel time.
Grab will match drivers and passengers with a notification when they are going the same way.
For commuters, they also need to download the GrabHitch app and can request the service seven days in advance and 15 minutes before pick-up time.
Mr Vee said travelling with GrabHitch service can guarantee the safety of passengers because of the company's strict security measures and features that allows real-time tracking of the rides within the mobile app. The company also offers a 24-hour customer service hotline.
"We chose Thailand as the third country for the GrabHitch trial, after launching in Singapore in August this year," he said.
Grab has received a strong response from the Singaporean market, but Mr Vee declined to elaborate on the figures.
Mr Vee also said Grab Thailand informed the Department of Land Transport months in advance that the company planned a beta launch of GrabHitch service here. The department does not oppose or ban the service.
GrabHitch was unofficially launched in Thailand on Monday. So far more than 100 private car owners have signed up for the service.
Mr Vee said Bangkok is the second-most congested city in the world, with almost 4 million private passenger cars on the road.
In addition, most of these vehicles are unfilled and can be further leveraged to give others a lift.
He said GrabHitch is committed to corporate social responsibility as the initiative could provide greater convenience for people in big cities, while the company can expand its multi-transport portfolio in the Thai market.
Grab Thailand began operating here in October 2013. The company now serves seven major provinces comprising Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Khon Kaen, Phuket and Ubon Ratchathani.
Grab said its Thai operation has grown 17 times since 2013.