Latest news with #inDrive
Free Malaysia Today
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
All inDrive drivers have valid permits now, says e-hailing firm
(From left) inDrive's Asia Pacific director Mark Tolley, country lead P Govin Kumaar, and operations manager Azlan Anwar at a press conference today. KUALA LUMPUR : E-hailing platform inDrive says all of its drivers possess valid e-hailing vehicle permits (EVP) and public service vehicle (PSV) licences, a day after the government said it had breached the key condition of its operating licence. Its country lead P Govin Kumaar said the company previously encountered administrative issues with EVP documentation but had resolved the matter in collaboration with the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad). 'We take the matter seriously. Today, we can say with confidence that all drivers active in our system are compliant,' he said at a press conference today. He added that the three-month observation period imposed by Apad would not affect inDrive's expansion plans, and that the company remained in regular engagement with regulators. Yesterday, transport minister Loke Siew Fook said Russian-founded e-hailing firms inDrive and Maxim risked having their licences revoked if they failed to ensure that their drivers complied with key requirements, including obtaining EVPs. Loke said both companies had allowed their drivers to operate without EVPs, a key condition of their operating licence. inDrive's Asia Pacific director Mark Tolley said the company had upgraded its tech systems following the compliance issues. 'We've worked continuously over the last three months with Apad, the ministry, our data team and our product development teams globally to improve the system,' he said. Meanwhile, driver operations manager Azlan Anwar said all drivers were subject to a verification process before being onboarded, with inDrive handling EVP applications on their behalf. He said the company aimed to have 40,000 active drivers by the end of 2025. Apad recommended the revocation of inDrive and Maxim's licences in April, but both companies appealed and were granted a three-month monitoring period starting July 24.
Barnama
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Barnama
inDrive Eyes 40,000 Active Drivers, Confident In Expansion Amid EVP Issues
BUSINESS 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.
New Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
How inDrive and Maxim came close to a shutdown
KUALA LUMPUR: E-hailing platforms inDrive and Maxim came under fire this year after regulators moved to suspend their operations for breaching local transport laws. The Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) issued cease-and-desist notices to both firms, triggering fierce debate over enforcement, fairness, and the future of competition in Malaysia's ride-hailing market. Here is a chronological breakdown of how the events unfolded. Dec 23, 2024: inDrive announced it had completed five billion rides globally. In Malaysia, the platform recorded a 20 per cent growth in rides and a 21 per cent increase in users, while aiming for a 23 per cent rise in driver registrations. It operated across the Klang Valley, Penang and Johor Bahru. Feb 13, 2025: inDrive set a target of registering 40,000 drivers in Malaysia by the end of the year. The company also unveiled plans to enhance driver support services, including new insurance packages and mini driver hubs outside the Klang Valley. May 2, 2025: APAD issued a notice to inDrive requesting the return of its Intermediation Business Licence (IBL) over failure to meet local regulatory conditions, including driver documentation and E-Hailing Vehicle Permit (EVP) compliance. May 6, 2025: The Malaysian P-Hailing Riders Association (Penghantar) criticised APAD for allowing inDrive and Maxim to continue operating despite breaches. The group demanded enforcement and urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to block the apps. May 9, 2025: Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that inDrive and Maxim were ordered to cease operations in Malaysia by July 24 for violating local transport regulations. Both platforms were allowed to appeal the decision. May 9, 2025: inDrive issued a statement saying it would comply with all regulatory requirements. It confirmed operations would continue during the appeal period and that it was actively engaging with APAD. May 13, 2025: The Public Transport Transformation Association (TPAD) warned that banning platforms like inDrive could reduce competition and increase fares. TPAD added that inDrive's low commission rates had made it a sustainable option for many drivers, especially outside major cities. The group urged the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) to examine the market impact. May 14, 2025: Maxim confirmed it was engaging with APAD to resolve the revocation issue. The company said that it had always prioritised safety, and that its drivers underwent thorough document checks. It also highlighted partnerships with the Road Transport Department (RTD) and local driving schools to ensure Public Service Vehicle (PSV) compliance. June 10, 2025: Maxim announced it had submitted all necessary documents to APAD to support its appeal. Its legal and government relations head, Mushfique Ahmed Chowdury, said the company had complied with all APAD instructions and was committed to full regularisation. He added that a previous APAD raid in 2023 did not result in any licence cancellation but instead called for operational improverments. June 26, 2025: The Northern e-Hailing Drivers Association (NeHDA) welcomed the suspension order, calling it a step toward regulatory fairness. Its chairman, Zabidi Bahador, said continued leniency towards non-compliant operators would harm local drivers and passenger trust. July 24, 2025: APAD announced that inDrive and Maxim would be allowed to continue operations under a three-month probation period. Both companies had taken satisfactory corrective action, including ensuring all drivers had valid EVPs and granting APAD limited access to their driver databases. July 28, 2025: Anthony Loke issued a stern warning that any further breaches during the probation period would result in immediate licence revocation. He said the appeal was granted because this was the companies' first major offence and due to the public's reliance on the services in some states. July 29, 2025: inDrive officially confirmed it has received approval from the Transport Ministry and APAD to continue operating. The platform said it had strengthened its internal systems and reaffirmed that all drivers must possess valid EVPs, PSV licences and insurance. The company announced enhanced standard operating procedures, driver training via inDrive Academy, and a new programme to support mobility access for persons with disabilities (OKU). It also pledged to maintain one of the lowest commission rates in the industry, passing 85–90 per cent of ride income to drivers.
New Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
inDrive pledges stronger oversight after regulatory setbacks
KUALA LUMPUR: Russian-founded e-hailing service inDrive has moved swiftly to tighten its compliance systems after an administrative lapse earlier this year exposed gaps in driver documentation. Speaking at a press conference today, inDrive Malaysia country lead Govind Kumaar said the issue prompted a full-scale internal review, leading to major enhancements in the company's driver onboarding and verification processes. "There was an administrative issue earlier this year, but we have identified the root cause and worked hand in hand with the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to correct it," Govind said. He added that the company is now focused on reinforcing its internal safeguards to ensure full and ongoing compliance. inDrive driver operations manager Azlan Anwar also confirmed that all active drivers on the platform are now fully compliant with Malaysian regulatory requirements. "Today, all our active drivers hold valid e-hailing vehicle permits (EVP), public service vehicle (PSV) licences, and e-hailing insurance. "Prior to the issue, we now take full corrective measures, including real-time data sharing, enhanced document verification, internal audits, and also streamlined the re-verification process," Azlan said. In April this year, inDrive was issued a notice of revocation by APAD due to non-compliance related to EVP documentation. Following its corrective actions, inDrive's operating status was formally reinstated on July 24, with official approval from both APAD and the Transport Ministry to fully resume operations. Govind also addressed concerns about inDrive's peer-to-peer pricing mechanism, which enables passengers and drivers to mutually agree on fares before a ride begins. "This system empowers both parties. No driver is forced to accept a fare, and no rider is forced to pay more than they agree to. It's transparent, fair, and beneficial, especially in price-sensitive markets," Govind added. Looking ahead, inDrive aims to strengthen platform integrity and expand its presence in Malaysia, with a target of 40,000 active drivers by the end of 2025. In addition, the company plans to roll out a mobility initiative for persons with disabilities to improve inclusivity and accessibility within the local ride-hailing ecosystem. "We are not only focused on compliance, but also on uplifting service quality through continuous driver development in Malaysia. "What happened earlier was a lesson. But we have responded by evolving, technologically, operationally, and culturally," Govind said.
The Star
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Star
inDrive says admin issues led to permit revocation, now compliant with regulatory requirement
PETALING JAYA: Administrative issues related to e-hailing vehicle permits (EVP) within inDrive was what led to the recent notice of operating permit revocation by the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad), says inDrive. The e-hailing platform's Malaysia country lead Govin Kumaar Panirsheeluam said inDrive has since corrected the root cause of the administrative issue with assistance from Apad. He also revealed that the company has conducted various upgrades to their administrative systems to reduce the possibility of similar future issues from occurring again. He said this included enhancing their driver verification processes, conducting stricter documentation checks, and initiating internal audits to close any potential gaps related to EVP. 'inDrive is now in constant communication and sharing real time data with Apad to align our procedures and strengthen the compliance framework going forward. 'To build a stronger and more resilient platform, we are reactivating and reverifying existing driver accounts while strengthening our driver support systems. 'We fully support the government's responsibility to ensure safety and order in public transport and are committed to operating with full transparency, " he said in a press conference here on Tuesday (July 29), adding that inDrive is now compliant with all regulatory requirements. inDrive Malaysia driver operations manager Azlan Anwar also added that stricter standard operating procedures have been enforced within the company. 'To strengthen existing safeguards, we have introduced increased layers of validation and verification to detect any inconsistencies or forged documents. 'We have also improved our onboarding journey for drivers through our inDrive academy digital e-learning platform to better train drivers on safety protocols, emergency responses and other aspects. 'This is part of our commitment to build a responsible and professional driver community,' he said during the press conference. inDrive Asia-Pacific (APAC) macroregional director Mark Tolley said they would continue to focus on improving and elevating their services to better serve the people. 'We understand that we didn't get it right but we believe Malaysia is the right place for inDrive and we will continue to focus on improving and elevating our services to better serve the Malaysian people,' he said. This comes after the Apad revoked the operating permits of e-hailing applications - InDrive and Maxim - with an order to cease all operations in Malaysia by July 24, 2025, for allegedly operating illegally, earlier in May this year. Apad then announced that the two companies would be allowed to resume their operations on July 23, subject to a review every three months.
