Bid your ride: Grab Malaysia testing fare bidding feature in selected towns

PETALING JAYA: Grab Malaysia is testing a fare bidding feature where passengers can propose the ride price for drivers to accept or make a counter-offer.

“We’re currently conducting a small-scale experiment to test the feature in selected towns in Malaysia,” the company said when contacted by LifestyleTech.

Some users on social media claimed to have received notifications about the feature in GrabAcademy, an in-app learning section in the Grab driver-partners app.

Screenshots with details about the feature have also been shared by the users on social media.

The feature is described as “optional” for both passengers and drivers. Fixed fare features such as JustGrab and GrabCar will still be available.

Drivers must first decide to turn on the feature if they want to participate in fare bidding rides.

The fare bidding starts with a passenger request, where they will suggest a fare that they are willing to pay for the requested ride.

Then drivers have 15 seconds to accept the fare or counter offer with a different fare. The counter-offer amount will be shown on the app for the driver to propose.

The passenger can then choose their preferred drive based on the offer received. Drivers will be notified in 15 to 20 seconds if they have been selected by the passenger for the ride.

The company claimed that the fare bidding feature will help to create a “more transparent and flexible pricing system” by “allowing passengers and drivers to have a mutual agreement” on the fare.