- Introduce everyday insurance, grow driver support facilities to Penang, JB
- Malay ride hailing is projected to reach US$ 570 million by 2029.
.jpeg "The number of users in Malaysia's ride-hailing market is expected to grow, reaching 11.47 million by 2029, with user penetration increasing from 28.1% in 2024 to 31.5% by 2029.")
At a media event in Kuala Lumpur last week, Natalia Makarenko ( pic ) as marketing director APAC of inDrive, said,” We are committed to providing innovative, community-focused mobility solutions that resonate with local needs.
A global mobility and urban services platform named inDrive ( short of Independent Drivers ), which was founded in Yakutsk, one of the oldest and coldest cities in Siberia, Russia, in 2013 and expanded to include Malaysia, one of the hotter and more humid regions of Southeast Asia.
Since entering Malaysia in 2021, inDrive has expanded its footprint from the Klang Valley ( Kuala Lumpur and Selangor ) to Penang, Johor Bahru, and to East Malaysia in Kuching, Miri, Sibu, Bintulu, and Kota Kinabalu. It is currently looking into starting businesses in Melaka in the upcoming season.
Explaining its confidence in Malaysia, the company shared data from market data outfit Statista that showed the Malaysian market is set to grow at a CAGR of 3.5 % from 2024 to 2029, reaching a projected market value of US$ 570 million ( RM2.48 billion ) by 2029. The number of users in the ride-hailing market is expected to grow, reaching 11.47 million by 2029, with user penetration increasing from 28.1 % in 2024 to 31.5 % by 2029.
In the first half of 2024, it’s confidence increased by 20 % more rides and 21 % more active users.  ,
InDrive stated in July that it had reached 10, 000 drivers in total by the end of June in Malaysia and was boldly aiming to increase this to 20, 000 by the end of 2024. By the end of this year, it anticipates an increase in the number of active drivers of 23 %. Effective drivers are defined as those who have completed at least one walk in the previous 30 days according to InDrive.
allowing the driver and customer to communicate fare in a fight with Grab and Gojek
Meanwhile the Southeast Asian ride-hailing market is expected to reach US$ 8.87 billion ( RM38.51 billion ) in revenue by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 5.39 % between 2024-2029. With such promising development leads, inDrive is positioning itself as a major player in the area, which poses a threat to business leader Grab and Gojek in Indonesia.
One of the characteristics of inDrive that it considers to allow it to compete with Grab and Gojek is that it enables drivers and passengers to instantly bargain fares.
Although both the vehicle and the customer have the option to bargain prices that are higher or lower than the app’s recommended price, there are limitations in place to ensure fairness for both parties. What proportion of trips are based on this strategy is unknown.
However, Govin Kumaar Panirsheeluam ( pic ), inDrive’s business development lead in Malaysia, declined to share what the limits are citing confidentiality.  ,
Beyond ride-hailing, inDrive offers a range of utility solutions, including city and interstate travel, messenger, and “inDrive Services”, a system for users to supply for specialists from household assistance to pet services, catering to the varied needs of the Indonesian market.
Malaysia match strategy
InDrive is organizing a number of strategic initiatives in Malaysia to support expansion and expand its services. One involves obtaining drivers ‘ regular insurance policy, seeing how many individuals find it unnecessary to obtain monthly or yearly coverage based on their driving habits.
Govin said,” We are in debate to have regular e-hailing plan as a solution which will help individuals to get their license-to-drive with us, faster”.
This supports a profit that they already have. ” We now have established partnerships in area for car hire and insurance as well, where individuals can get them at a discounted level,” he said.
Govin anticipates that such incentives will lead to a rise in drivers because the Klang Valley’s ride-hailing industry has a known lack of drivers, which has increased customer wait times, which has led to poor motorist behavior, including canceling bookings.
Additionally, it intends to expand driver support centers to important cities like Penang and Johor Bahru, as well as look into the potential launch of an electric vehicle ( EV ) fleet to promote sustainable and creative mobility solutions, which will be implemented in all of the cities where inDrive is active.
These initiatives help the company realize its overall plan to leverage on Southeast Asia’s progress and provide its customers with value-driven solutions.
Future programs focus on improving the general driver practice, including the introduction of superior benefits such as insurance protection, loyalty programs, and training aid.  ,
In a bid to undermine its industry that has been dominated by Grab, inDrive announced recently that it will offer 100 % of its 8, 000 individuals in the Philippines. Before receiving the formal approval in December 2023, InDrive was unregistered in Manila in January 2023.
Natalia declined to respond when asked if Indonesia or Malaysia might have similar ideas. Instead, she stated that” we aim to keep the payment we apply to the driver side of the market as low as possible and not exceed 10 %.”
She also declined to disclose how much of the US$ 300 million in cash it received from General Catalyst next month is being used to expand into new markets.
inVision aims to benefit , 1 billion life by 2030
With the intention of favorably impacting the existence of over 1 billion people by 2030, inDrive continues to make a good impact on local communities through its generous shoulder, inVision.  ,
Activities like BeginIT, which educates and discovers children from homes, boarding schools, and remote institutions about the future of systems, Aurora Tech Award, which supports female tech startup members, and Underdog Tech Award, an worldwide award for the best tech companies outside big tech hubs and areas. These activities are available to submissions and entries from Malaysia, and they are open to submissions and entries from all over the world.
Through responsible practices and positive initiatives, Natalia said,” Our objective is to not only offer a better ride-hailing experience but also be a valuable part of the communities we serve.”