Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s government has announced that private car ride-hailingservices like Uber and GrabCar are illegal, and the country is planning todevelop its own taxi app for local passengers.
Officials of theThai Ministry of Transport said using private cars for transport services isillegal, becausethe vehicles are not registered for public transport. Only services using smart-phoneapps that call licensed taxis are legal.
Thailand’sauthorities had previously warned and fined drivers who provided the Uber andGrabCar services.
The government plans tointroduce its own cell phone app, TAXI OK, for passengers to callgovernment-endorsed taxis featuring GPS tracking systems and closed-circuitcameras.
In a statement, Uber said it would continue to seek tohave its ride-sharing services legalised.-VNA