Amazon in talks for stake in Indonesia's ride-hailing start-up Gojek: Source

Indonesia's first unicorn, Gojek, has up to 20 services and has evolved from ride-sharing to allowing its customers to make online payments and order everything from food to groceries. PHOTO: BUSINESS TIMES

NEW YORK (REUTERS) - Amazon.com Inc is in early talks with Gojek to buy a stake in the Indonesian ride-hailing start-up, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday (Aug 28).

Details of the stake were not known and the source did not want to be identified as the talks are private.

Both Amazon and Gojek did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Indonesia's first unicorn, Gojek, has up to 20 services and has evolved from ride-sharing to allowing its customers to make online payments and order everything from food to groceries. A unicorn is a privately held start-up with a current valuation of US$1 billion or more.

Earlier this year, Amazon also bought a stake in British online food delivery company Deliveroo as it competes with Uber Technologies Inc's Uber Eats in the global race to dominate the market for takeaway meals.

Reuters reported in July that Amazon is expanding its transportation prowess to do virtually everything short of building a car.

Gojek, which counts Alphabet Inc's, Alibaba Group Holdings, Tencent Holdings and Visa Inc as investors, last raised funding in July at a valuation of around US$10 billion.

The Wall Street Journal first reported about the discussions between Amazon and Gojek.

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