inDrive (previously known as inDriver), is an international ride-hailing service[2]
with more than 200 million downloads operating in more that 700 cities in over 45
countries.[3][4][5] Headquartered in Mountain View, California. The company was
officially launched in 2013.[6]
It is operating on the peer-to-peer pricing model.[7] In the inDrive app, all
conditions of the trip are determined as a result of an agreement between
passengers and drivers. Passengers make all payments for rides directly to drivers
in cash or non-cash settlements.[8] inDrive takes 12.99% of the fare in commission.
[9][10][11]
inDrive works both in small towns with a population of 10 thousand inhabitants,
often with weak internet and without maps of the settlement, and in the largest
cities with the highest level of competition.
History
inDriver was founded in 2012 by entrepreneur Arsen Tomsky[12] in Yakutsk, one of
the coldest cities in the world. The service originated when a group of local
students established a collective group of "independent drivers" (i.e. inDrivers)
on social media in response to a sharp increase in taxi prices when outside
temperatures dropped precipitously. Members of the group shared where they wanted
to go and the prices they were willing to pay, allowing drivers to in turn contact
these customers and negotiate prices. One year later, the group moved to the Sinet
Company which created a peer-to-peer transportation-based system based on this
concept.[13][14]
In 2013, inDriver was officially launched.[15][16]
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, inDrive divested its interests in the
Russian market in June 2022, and relocated 1,000 employees from Russia to
Kazakhstan and Cyprus.[17]
inDrive subsequently launched other services, including intercity trips, delivery
and fintech services.
International expansion
In December 2014, inDriver expanded internationally by launching in Astana,
Kazakhstan.[18]
The company entered Latin America in April 2018,[19][20][21] when the service
became available in Mexico and then later in Guatemala, Colombia, Peru, El
Salvador, Chile, Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia.[22][23][24][25][26][27]
In November 2018, the service became available in Africa with the launch in Arusha,
Tanzania.[28]
In 2018, the company opened a temporary office in New York City, and later,
established its headquarters in Mountain View, California.[29][30][31][32][33]
It also started its operations in Pakistan by 2021 and became the most downloaded
ride-hailing app in the country within a year.[34]
In June 2022, inDriver announced that it was entering the Australian market, with
an initial launch in Melbourne.[35]
In July 2023, inDrive launched in the U.S., in Miami, South Florida.[36]
In November 2023, inDrive launched in the Philippine cities of Bacolod, Baguio,
Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, and Iloilo.[37] However, in January 2024, the Land
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board suspended inDrive operations in the
country due to allegations of price bargaining, which violates the board's terms
and conditions for accreditation as a transport company.[38]
Corporate development
In February 2017 the service passed the threshold of 100 million rides booked
through the InDriver mobile app. There were more than 5 million registered users at
the time.[39]
In April 2020, because of COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdowns,[40] the company
suspended launches in new countries to focus on servicing its existing markets.
Among other initiatives, inDriver launched its "Medical Worker On The Way" program
to help healthcare workers around the world get to and from work.[41][42][43]
Despite the lockdowns, however, inDriver managed to reach 50 million app-downloads
in July 2020.[44]
In early 2021, inDriver achieved unicorn status after closing a $150m investment
round with Insight Partners, General Catalyst, and Bond Capital, which valued the
company at $1.23 billion.[45] It reached 1 billion trips in May 2021.[46]
By March 2022, inDriver had established regional operational hubs in the Americas,
Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the CIS to support its expanding business.[47]
In February 2024, inDrive launched inDrive Money, offering cash loans to drivers
operating on its platform in Mexico, aiming to address the financial needs of
drivers who are often excluded by traditional financial institutions.[48]
In October 2022, inDriver rebranded and became inDrive, transforming into a group
of companies.[49]
In February 2023, inDrive raised $150m in an innovative hybrid instrument from
General Catalyst for marketing and growth, expansion into new verticals.[2]
In 2023, inDrive assembled an in-house corporate venture capital arm focused on
emerging markets – New Ventures.[50] Andries Smit was appointed Vice President of
New Ventures.[51]
In May 2023, inDrive acquired the team and technology from Master Delivery, a last-
mile delivery software platform, to strengthen its B2B unit.[52]
In March 2024, inDrive secured another $150m from General Catalyst to bolster its
product and market expansion plans.[53]
App description
To request a ride, the user specifies the starting point and destination address of
the ride, the price they are willing to pay and if they have any comments for the
driver. Drivers can make a counter-offer to the price offered by the passenger.
Other options include adding additional destinations, indicating the need for a
child seat, etc. The information of the car and driver confirmed for the service
will appear on the passenger's phone screen. This includes the driver's rating and
contact, the car's approximate arrival time and its real-time geolocation point on
the map.
According to data.ai, in 2023 inDrive remained the second most downloaded app in
the ride-hailing category globally for the second consecutive year. inDrive also
ranked fourth as the most downloaded travel app.[54][55]
Awards
inDriver was nominated for the GSMA Global Mobile Awards (GLOMO) 2019 in the 'Most
Innovative Mobile App' category.[56]
The service was named Google Play's 2019 Best Everyday Essential app in Brazil.[57]
inDrive won the SHIELD Trust Awards 2022.[58]
References
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