Sixth and Newest Taxi Operator GrabCab Begins Operations

Singapore's sixth and newest taxi operator GrabCab has hit the roads, with over 40 cabs to be rolled out in July, and more cabs expected in the next three years.

- Savanna Tai

Its flag-down fare is $4.60 for a standard four-seater vehicle, while distance rates are 26 cents for every 400m under 10km, and 26 cents for every 350m after 10km. A fee of 26 cents will be charged for every 45 seconds of waiting.

Fares for taxis under ComfortDelGro, Trans-Cab, Strides Premier and Prime Taxi are comparable.

GrabCab was launched on July 2 with a flag-off ceremony at Grab's headquarters in one-north.

The taxi operator, a subsidiary of Grab's rental arm GrabRentals, announced its entry into the market on June 4, with 40 new fifth-generation electric hybrid Toyota Prius cars.

Under the terms of its street-hail operator licence, GrabCab has three years to progressively expand its fleet to meet the minimum fleet size requirement of 800 cabs.

The operator aims to achieve the target before the third year, said a Grab spokesperson.

Grab had said in June that it would add two more models to its fleet, including the electric hybrid Hyundai Kona from August and a fully electric vehicle "some time" in 2025. The Hyundai Kona will be up for rental from July 3.