From just 20 bikes to US$5 billion, GO-JEK has cemented its leadership in Indonesia. And it’s now ready for expansion, with rumored plans to venture deeper into the Southeast Asian market.
The first startup of Indonesian origin to be classified as a transport system, GO-JEK had very humble beginnings, within the four walls of a call center. GO-JEK, a name that’s a play on the word ojek (motorcycle taxi), now has a fleet of more than 400,000 drivers for people in 50 Indonesian cities.
GO-JEK will initially offer motorcycle-hailing services in Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines, and provide traditional taxi services in Singapore, where motorcycle taxis aren’t permitted, a company spokesman said. The move, in effect, puts GO-JEK in direct competition with regional market leader Grab Inc.
GO-JEK CEO and Founder Nadiem Makarim, said: “Consumers are happiest when they have choices and at the moment, people in Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines don’t feel that they’re getting enough when it comes to ride-hailing. We hope that as we arrive in new markets, we will quickly become everyone’s go-to lifestyle app. That is our aspiration. In the meantime, we hope our presence will provide the welcome competition markets need to thrive.
“Our aim is to partner with countries and their governments to bring benefit to everyone who uses our technology whether consumers looking for fast, competitive services, or drivers looking to secure additional income. GO-JEK has a positive impact on millions of people throughout Indonesia and we want more people to share in that benefit.”
GO-JEK has raised more than $2 billion from investors to date, including a recently closed $1.4 billion round. The company is widely seen as the market leader in Indonesia, but Grab is dominant across the rest of Southeast Asia courtesy of its deal with Uber. Grab operates in eight countries in Southeast Asia, and beyond ride-sharing, it offers food delivery and mobile payments.
Source:
- https://www.reuters.com/article/us-go-jek-indonesia/exclusive-indonesias-go-jek-poised-for-imminent-southeast-asia-expansion-idUSKBN1H31KV
- https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2018/03/28/055917103/GoJek-Expands-to-SEA-Countries-following-Uber-Exit