Suwon City Launches Dedicated Taxi-Hailing App with No Call Fees or Brokerage Commissions

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon City has launched 'Suwon e-Taxi,' a city-exclusive taxi-hailing app with no call fees or brokerage commissions.

'Suwon e-Taxi,' which begins service on the 15th, is similar in format to existing taxi-hailing apps but without call fees. It offers automatic payment and mileage services. If users opt in for automatic taxi fare payment service, 2% of the fare is credited as points. Users can use accumulated points of 500 or more when paying for fares.

The app also includes 'Passenger Ride Preference Options' that allow passengers to communicate requests to drivers, such as 'I prefer a quiet ride,' 'Please follow the navigation guidance,' and 'I prefer smooth driving without sudden acceleration or hard braking.'

'Suwon e-Taxi' applies a short-distance dispatch method as standard to provide passengers with fast dispatch service.

Users can download the app by searching 'Suwon e-Taxi' on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Through the app, users can check estimated travel time, fares, and routes to their destinations.

'Suwon e-Taxi' is a 'public-private collaboration platform' led by the taxi industry and developed with support from Suwon City. It is expected to help strengthen the competitiveness of non-affiliated taxis of existing mobile taxi-hailing operators and vitalize the taxi industry.

As of April 13, 2,733 drivers have registered for 'Suwon e-Taxi': 886 out of 1,715 corporate taxi drivers (51.7%), and 1,847 out of 2,923 individual taxi drivers—excluding model taxi and transportation-disadvantaged exclusive taxi services (63.2%).

Jung Gwang-ryang, head of the Public Transportation Division at Suwon City, stated, "We hope 'Suwon e-Taxi' will help the taxi industry, which faces difficulties due to reduced passengers from COVID-19, secure more passengers and strengthen the competitiveness of non-affiliated taxis of existing mobile taxi-hailing operators." He added, "For 'Suwon e-Taxi' to gain public support, high-quality service must be backed."