Grab and HCMC to launch public electric motorbike service

Under the memorandum of understanding signed last week between the department and ride hailing firm Grab, the service of transporting passengers by electric motorbikes will be introduced in some central areas of Ho Chi Minh City in the last quarter of 2019.

The two sides will jointly launch the service to support the city’s public transportation system in downtown areas. Later, it will be expanded throughout the city by the end of next year, according to statement posted on the department’s website.

They are also considering to offer electric motorbike rental service during the upcoming times. The two parties will have plan to connect the current transportation services on the Grab application to the city's existing public transport system, creating additional options for passengers on their daily travelling.  

This additional mode of public transport aims to limit the use of personal vehicles, reduce congestion, and limit environmental pollution, department director Tran Quang Lam said.

Ho Chi Minh City, the country's largest metropolis with 13 million people, has around 7.8 million motorbikes and about 750,000 cars, according to the city's police department.

Car registrations in the city increased 15 percent in the first six months, while motorbikes 6 percent, according to the transport department.