SINGAPORE - Upcoming ride-booking app Karhoo, which will launch in Singapore early next year, has announced a partnership with taxi giant ComfortDelGro.
"The deal represents the largest single taxi service provider to sign with Karhoo to date," the British company said on Monday.
ComfortDelGro has a fleet of over 17,000 taxis, accounting for close to 60 per cent of the market. As of September, its Comfort brand boasts 12,673 taxis, and CityCab, 4,353.
Karhoo is a comparison app that will allow commuters to pick a cab or a private-hire car across companies, based on criteria such as cost, time of arrival and type of vehicle.
Unlike apps such as GrabTaxi and Uber, Karhoo works with cab companies rather than individual drivers, allowing the company to integrate hundreds of vehicles in one go onto its platform.
Karhoo founder and chief executive Daniel Ishag, 41, said the app will "level the playing field" for all.
"For the first time, Karhoo allows passengers to compare all available suppliers and select their ride on the criteria they care about, be it price, local knowledge, quality, punctuality, vehicle type or brand of supplier," said the British entrepreneur.
ComfortDelGro Taxis chief executive, Mr Yang Ban Seng, said: "We are delighted to partner with Karhoo and welcome the opportunity this offers our 34,000 drivers."
Since it started about 10 months ago, Karhoo has raised US$250 million (S$356 million). Besides Singapore, Karhoo also plans to launch in New York and London.
The company said it has secured a global network of more than 250,000 cars, including 28,000 drivers in New York of which more than 10,000 are the city's iconic yellow and green cabs.
Karhoo has also partnered with 18,000 drivers in London including Addison Lee, Europe's largest private hire firm, and Computer Cab, the largest licensed taxi operator.
