Grab Philippines on Monday bared asking the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to allow it to organize a “holiday fleet” that will address the anticipated spike in demand for mobility in the run up to the Christmas holidays.
Grace Vera Cruz, Grab Philippines country manager, said the ride-hailing app has petitioned government since July for a temporary increase in transportation network vehicle service (TNVS) slots as basis for a “holiday fleet for Christmas” and prevent a shortage of driver-partners on the road like as had happened last year.
In December last year, Grab said only one of two passengers was able to book a GrabCar ride as holidays-induced demand for mobility peaked.
“I’m hoping we have a solution within the next three to four weeks. Hopefully before November,” Vera Cruz said.
According to Cruz, GrabCar needs to meet where its customers want them this time around when projections indicate inbound traffic requiring the deployment of 10,000 to 20,000 more units.
“We really want to deliver a very good customer experience” she said.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) last month opened 10,200 slots in Metro Manila and 350 slots for Central Luzon.
The industry has between 40,000 to 50,000 TNVS slots at the moment, according to GrabCar which did not disclose the number of its driver partners or the deployment rate TNVS units.
GrabCar, however, acknowledged number of TNVS units has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels when 65,000 slots were allotted for TNCs.
Vera Cruz said the company will expand its GrabCar services in Davao beginning the second week of October this year.
She said Grab will initially deploy 250 TNVS slots to serve Davao but ultimately needs at least 1,500 slots to serve the growing demand in the province.
The company earlier expanded in Iloilo City where it deploys 100 GrabCar units.
