TARLAC CITY, Tarlac (Jan. 30, 2023) — Ride-hailing companies inDrive and Maxim issued separate statements today after receiving negative media coverage in the past few days.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) earlier cautioned the public against using the two ride-hailing apps for the dangers they pose to riders as they operate without the required transport network company license.
InDrive disputed the statement of the LTFRB, stating that they “met the requirements duly-established by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and consequently filed our application to be a duly-accredited Transportation Network Company.”
Meanwhile, Maxim refuted reports that it is a ride-hailing company – yet.
“Maxim does not provide passenger car transportation services in the country and does not have a corresponding rate. The main area of work is delivery,” it said in its official statement sent to Tarlakenyo today.
However, Maxim said that they have a pending application before the LTFRB – “At the moment, the application for the necessary license is under consideration by the regulatory authority.”
“The company is following the legal requirements in this matter and is taking all necessary steps to launch car rides for residents and visitors of Philippine cities,” it said in the same statement.
Read inDrive’s and Maxim’s official statements below.
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inDrive’s Official Statement
In the past couple of days, several reports have circulated online regarding the availability of the inDrive application and its activity in several cities around the country.
inDrive wishes to convey that the company is currently conducting a market research to determine the suitability of our unique ride-hailing model for the Philippine consumers, without imposing fees of any kind. inDrive currently does not monetize within the Philippine market. In parallel, after securing our compliance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, both in the latter part of 2022, we have also met the requirements duly-established by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and consequently filed our application to be a duly-accredited Transportation Network Company.
inDrive, formerly known as inDriver, recently adopted a new corporate identity that matches our Mission – Our Inner Drive – of challenging injustice and spreading throughout the world the idea of fair people-to-people services beyond ride-hailing. inDrive is a US company headquartered in Mountain View, California, with regional hubs located in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. Present in over 700 cities in 47 countries, we are the 2nd most downloaded mobility app in the world by building a “people driven” company that puts people first.
inDrive paves the way for a global mobility and urban services platform that empowers communities by providing wider access to previously unattainable services and solutions, while also creating wonderful opportunities for growth – the inDrive App. Its services include ride-hailing and intercity rides, as well as courier, cargo, and domestic services in select markets. The app utilizes a peer-to-peer (P2P) model where users can negotiate and mutually agree on the rates of services available on the platform, effectively promoting fair and just prices for everyone. And it is our fervent hope to serve the Filipinos too.
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Maxim’s Response to the LTFRB’s Statement
Maxim is officially registered with all regulatory authorities, pays taxes to the state treasury, operates under its trade name MAXIM RIDES&FOOD DELIVERY registered in Cebu City. The company has 20 registered offices in the Philippines, which have the necessary permits for work.
Maxim does not provide passenger car transportation services in the country and does not have a corresponding rate. The main area of work is delivery.
The Service seeks to expand the range of its services in accordance with user needs and to increase citizens’ mobility. The company is actively working on launching a rate for car rides. In order to carry out this activity, the company applied for accreditation as a TNC to the LTFRB on December 2, 2022. The state fee had been paid in advance.
At the moment, the application for the necessary license is under consideration by the regulatory authority. The company’s specialists have already contacted its representatives to obtain information on the status of the previously submitted application. According to the information we have as of January 23, 2023, the application was under consideration at the office of the Chairman of the LTFRB. Our company staff members are planning to request a meeting with representatives of the licensing authority. We are interested in working on a legal basis only, and we are open to dialogue.
Thus, the company is following the legal requirements in this matter and is taking all necessary steps to launch car rides for residents and visitors of Philippine cities.
