GrabTaxi Launched Its Service in Padang

A month ago, we updated you that GrabTaxi was doing a series of market researches in Indonesia's main cities. The researches were conducted to find out which city needed GrabTaxi's services the most. Now, the team is currently conducting the research in Padang, in beta version.

Padang becomes the second city in Indonesia in which GrabTaxi operates, after the startup entered Jakarta back in June 2014. GrabTaxi's CEO Anthony Tan claimed that ever since the service was launched in Jakarta, the responses given by commuters and taxi drivers have been highly positive. Demands from other cities even keep coming to GrabTaxi's office.

"Since GrabTaxi was launched for the first time in Jakarta, Indonesia is June 2014, we've received a fantastic string of positive responses from commuters and taxi drivers there, the demands for our presence in other cities in Indonesia even keep coming, from both commuters and taxi drivers,” Tan stated in his press release.

He added, “After conducting months of preparation and market research which include the establishment of branch office, recruitment, and training for staffs and taxi drivers, we are able to present the reliable, fast and secure taxi service in Padang effective as of March 2. This is the first step of our next expansion in Indonesia.”

As part of the opening, GrabTaxi introduces the RANCAK promotion that gives away IDR 15,000 of discount for every transaction until May 31, 2015.

The RANCAK promotion is only valid for regular taxis with pick-up and destination locations being in Padang and around, including Bukitinggi, Payakumbuh, and other surrounding areas. Meanwhile, the AMAN promotion which prevails in Jakarta and is part of the #TaxiAman campaign will be extended until the second week of this very March.

As long as GrabTaxi doesn't shut its market researches, we are of the belief that the service will enter other cities in Indonesia. FYI, this Malaysian taxi provider has just sealed theirs series D funding from Softbank Corp, with a spectacular amount of USD 250 mill (around IDR 3 trillion) on the table.