inDrive Eyes 40,000 Active Drivers, Confident In Expansion Amid EVP Issues
KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- United States-based e-hailing company inDrive remains confident of reaching 40,000 active drivers by year-end and affirms that its Malaysian expansion will not be jeopardised by the e-hailing vehicle permit (EVP) and public service vehicle (PSV)-related issues.
InDrive Malaysia country lead Govin Kumaar Panirsheeluam said the Land Public Transport Agency’s (APAD) decision to allow inDrive to continue operations under a three-month monitoring period does not impact its overall operations in the country, and inDrive remains compliant with the regulations.
“We are close to the target of 40,000 (drivers), and we will remain steadfast in engaging with the regular stakeholders, (including) the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and APAD, in this matter. So we do not foresee any issues,” he told a media conference held to explain its operating status and future plans.
InDrive Asia Pacific director Mark Tolley affirmed that Malaysia is one of its core markets, adding that the decision to set up its regional hub in Kuala Lumpur reflected the company’s commitment and belief in the brand’s continued growth in the country, despite recent regulatory issues.
“We have strengthened our internal processes, and we have taken the lead by modifying our platform -- by adding a layer of verification in the (inDrive) platform where we make sure that all the documentation provided by the drivers is verified correctly, and make sure that all the information provided is correct,” he said.
Earlier, inDrive officially received confirmation from the MOT and APAD to continue operations in Malaysia, following the conclusion of a review process.
InDrive is also committed to ensuring that all drivers on its platform are required to possess valid EVP and PSV licenses, as well as e-hailing insurance, and must pass document verification before being allowed to operate.
The ride-hailing company has since implemented enhanced internal checks and is working closely with APAD to strengthen its compliance systems.
Since entering Malaysia in 2021, inDrive has expanded its footprint from the Klang Valley to Penang and Johor Bahru.
-- BERNAMA