Indonesian ride app Go-Jek entering PH

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesian ride-hailing app Go-Jek will expand into the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore in the next few months, stepping up competition with rival Grab for Southeast Asian customers.

Go-Jek, which currently only operates in Indonesia, said Thursday it would spend $500 million on the regional expansion.

It’s potentially good news for consumers in Southeast Asia after competition between ride-hailing apps lessened with Uber’s agreement in March to sell its failing business in the region to Singapore-based Grab.

Go-Jek, which got a cash injection from investors including Google and Tencent earlier this year, said its overseas businesses will initially focus on ride hailing but eventually expand to other services such as food delivery.

Go-Jek said it was still working with regulators to smooth the way for its new operations.

It said each of the overseas businesses will develop their own brand “to ensure good traction in each new market.”

Grab already operates in eight countries in Southeast Asia, a region of more than 600 million people.

“Consumers are happiest when they have choice and at the moment, people in Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines don’t feel they’re getting enough when it comes to ride-hailing,” said Go-Jek’s founder Nadiem Makarim. — AP