In the wake of Uber’s departure from Southeast Asia, there’s been a gaping hole left behind. And we don’t mean the one in your pocket — seeing as how Grab’s promos have vanished into thin air like we all expected. (If you haven’t heard, Grab is also trying to take over the now-defunct Uber Eats with its newly-launched GrabFood.)
Many ride-hailing names have hastened to fill the space, with the likes of India’s ride-sharing start-up Jugnoo, Indonesian behemoth Go-Jek, and local carpooling company Ryde’s new private-hire car service, RydeX.
Now, there’s yet another homegrown brand seeking a slice of the pie. Launching tomorrow, Kardi is a start-up founded by 27-year-old entrepreneur Ashwin Selambram. It’ll offer private-hire car services ranging from affordable to luxurious, and drivers have been rounded up via social media campaigns and a recruitment drive at its Yishun office over the weekend, with the aim to get 3,000 individuals on board before its debut.
According to its Facebook page, Kardi was “created by local drivers and ex staff of ride hailing apps” (presumably former Uber employees). Its argument for drivers to come on board included reasons like aggressive marketing to riders, fair fare pricing, and commissions of 12 percent.
Kardi also called for the public to “support local” — although if you think about it, Ryde also falls under that category.
Naturally, in discount-hungry Singapore, promo codes will be dished out during its launch period to entice riders to make the switch to Kardi. But only time (and surge prices) will tell which ride-hailing platform emerges victor over the rest.
