AfMA Fleetdrive Issue 19 | Page 13

FLEETDRIVE 1 DiDi didiglobal.com/au DiDi, a ridesharing app specialising in commutes throughout China, launched in Melbourne in June 2018 and in Brisbane in July 2019. With over 31 million drivers and 550 million users globally, DiDi is one of the largest taxi hailing service operating in Asia, Australia and South America. Its users are so loyal, the only way Uber could enter the Chinese market was to merge with it. DiDi lets you order taxis and private cars. Where: Geelong, Melbourne, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast Cost: DiDi offers a similar pricing structure to Uber in Melbourne but with cheaper rates. Its minimum fare is $6.98 (Uber’s is $7.50) and time fare is 30 cents per minute (Uber’s is 35 cents). Its base fare is $1.98 (Uber’s is $2) and its distance fee is $1.08 for the first 7 kilometres. This drops down $0.98 cents after. Uber’s distance fee is a set $1.10. Cancellations are charged at $6 while Uber charges $10. Benefits: DiDi is approximately 10% cheaper than Uber. It also has a generous $20 referral fee for anyone who shares the app. 2 Ola ola.com.au Ola, India’s most popular rideshare service, entered the Australian market in early 2018 and has been growing rapidly ever since. Now available in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Canberra, it strives to provide affordable rides, lean fares and quality rides. Where: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Canberra. Cost: Ola has a like-for-like pricing structure with Uber. Benefits: Ola offers launch fare discounts when it opens up in a new city as well as first-time rider deals. 3 GoCatch www.gocatch.com GoCatch is one of Uber’s biggest rivals. It allows you to book taxis and private drivers and doesn’t charge surge pricing during peak demand periods like Uber does. Book a rideshare, taxi or taxi van within minutes using the GoCatch app, and you can even earn Qantas points for your ride Where: Throughout NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Adelaide and Perth. Cost: Can be cheaper than Uber as it doesn’t have surge pricing. Benefits: First-time riders can score a free ride credit. GoCatch also promises no surge fares and lower fares overall. ISSUE 19 2019 / WWW.AFMA.ORG.AU 13