Call me a cab! Free taxi app to launch in Hong Kong
Offering meant to address customer complaints about drivers’ attitudes and misconduct
The city’s first industry-organised taxi app is due to be unveiled on Thursday with a view to enhancing taxi drivers’ customer base, their service quality and convenience for passengers finding a taxi.
Dr Hung Wing-tat, chairman of the newly formed Taxi Council – comprising taxi owners, drivers and others in the industry – said on Tuesday the app, called TAXI, was meant to address customer complaints about taxi drivers’ attitudes and misconduct.
“This app is very special because it is developed by the industry,” he said. “It incorporates an endorsement system for customers to select the services of endorsed drivers who have to sign our performance pledges to ensure service quality.”
He added the new app would help improve service quality and help drivers boost business.
Hung denied that Uber, a luxury ride-hailing platform launched in Hong Kong two years ago, was a competitor. He described it as treading a grey area.
The free taxi app introduces a grading system for customers to access drivers. It includes a complaint system for customers, with complaints to be followed up within 48 hours of being filed.
At present, there are 800 drivers registered as endorsed drivers in the city. The council expected 1,500 endorsed drivers and 3,500 independent drivers to be registered under the app after another month.
Any orders placed through the app are to be assessed by the city’s eight pager centres, which are to send the messages to 9,000 drivers registered under the centres.