GrabCab to start in S'pore in July 2025 with 40 new Toyota Prius taxis

GrabCab vehicles will ply the roads in Singapore from July 2025.

The sixth taxi operator will start with 40 cabs in its fleet, Shin Min Daily News, The Straits Times and CNA reported.

GrabCab is a subsidiary of GrabRentals, Grab’s rental arm.

The first fleet of vehicles to be launched are the new fifth-generation electric hybrid Toyota Prius.

The electric hybrid Hyundai Kona will be added to the fleet from August, as well as a fully electric vehicle in 2025.

A green Toyota Prius with the GrabCab livery was previously seen on the road about a month ago before the official launch.

Rental rates

Rental rates for a GrabCab vehicle can go up to S$117 per day.

The first 100 drivers who sign up will get a rate of S$112 per day.

The rental rates for a Toyota Prius by other taxi operators are between S$100 and S$110 per day.

Cost of ride

The flag-down fare for a GrabCab four-seater standard vehicle will be S$4.60.

The distance rates will be 26 cents for every 400m under 10km, and 26 cents for every 350m after 10km.

A fee of 26 cents for every 45 seconds of waiting applies.

This is similar to fares for the Toyota Prius model under ComfortDelGro, Trans-Cab, Strides Premier and Prime Taxi.

For GrabCab fares for a four-seater electric vehicle, the flag-down fare will be S$4.80.

The distance rates will be 26 cents for every 400m under 10km, and 26 cents for every 350m after 10km, as well as a fee of 26 cents for every 45 seconds of waiting.

Up to 800 taxis in 3 years

Before the third year of operations, some time in 2028, GrabCab noted that it aims to meet the minimum fleet size requirement of 800 taxis for the street-hail operator licence.

Keen interest from drivers

So far, 700 to 800 prospective drivers have expressed interest in renting a GrabCab vehicle.

Of these, about 400 to 500 eligible applicants have been selected.

GrabCab had chosen applicants with a taxi driver’s vocational licence (TDVL).

Screening of drivers will be done based on demerit points accumulated.

Applicants without a TDVL will be directed to take a TDVL course at approved training centres.

GrabCab will fully fund course fees.

Easier to find relief driver

The taxi meter is fully integrated with the Grab platform.

Drivers can access ride-hail and street-hail jobs easily.

Drivers can look for a relief driver via the in-app matching service to chat with prospective partners located near them.

Top photo via Shin Min Daily News