Singapore's ride-hailing platform Tada to enter HK in Nov

Zero-commission firm takes on Uber in the territory, also eyes expansion to S. Korea

- Magdalene Fung

Singapore’s ride-hailing platform Tada will expand into Hong Kong come November, working with taxi fleets for a start, as it seeks to gain a foothold in a market where Uber has positioned itself as the main alternative to the city’s notoriously poor cab services.

The move comes as the government plans to regulate private car-hailing services, which remain large­ly illegal, unlike in other parts of Asia such as Singapore and mainland China.

“Our target is to launch in Hong Kong by the end of November,” ­Tada’s chief executive officer Sean Kim told The Straits Times in an interview on July 15.

The company will work with taxi fleets to offer “3,000 to 4,000 vehicles” on its platform for a start.

“Singapore and Hong Kong share many similarities, which allows us to bring what we’ve learnt from our success in Singapore over to Hong Kong,” Mr Kim said.

“Like Singapore, Hong Kong has a diverse community with very tech-friendly users and very well-established public transport systems, including the taxi industry... But in Hong Kong, there is a gap in terms of embracing new changes – not necessarily technical ones, but in adapting to users’ needs and demands.”

Tada sees itself offering users “more options” as it plays the role of a “matchmaker” to connect demand and supply of ride-hailing services in the city, the CEO said, adding that it is also eyeing South Korea for further expansion.

In Hong Kong, it is illegal for drivers to provide paid rides without a taxi licence or a car-hire permit. First-time offenders face fines of up to HK$10,000 (S$1,700).

Ride-hailing apps like US-based Uber operate in a legal grey area, providing services using taxis as well as private cars. The latter are not necessarily licensed to offer paid rides.