Grab has been awarded the first Cross-Border Ride-Hail Service Operator Licence (CRSOL), marking a significant step forward in improving land travel between Singapore and Malaysia.
The licence, introduced under the enhanced Cross-Border Taxi Scheme jointly announced by both countries’ transport ministries, allows ride-hailing platforms to offer cross-border taxi services.
As part of this development, Grab will launch a pilot service called Cross-Border SG-JB (Beta), enabling passengers to book door-to-door rides between Singapore in southern Malaysia, including Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri, Forest City, Kulai, and Senai.
The pilot will roll out starting 4 May 2026, with plans to expand as more licensed drivers join and user feedback is collected.
Alex Hungate, President & Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Grab, said: “Grab is honoured to partner with the governments of both countries in their vision to enhance cross-border connectivity. We will work closely with our taxi driver partners and passengers, using their feedback from this pilot to refine our operations and deliver a high-quality, reliable service.”
Key Features of the Pilot
The new service aims to streamline one of the world’s busiest land border crossings by offering:
- Door-to-door rides: Passengers can book a ride from any location in Singapore to any location within the cross-border operating areas of Malaysia.
- Advance booking: Trips can be scheduled between 12 hours and seven days in advance.
- Fixed upfront fares: Pricing is confirmed at booking, with introductory discounts of up to 20%.
- Vehicle options: 4-seater and 6-seater choices, including premium models.
- Built-in safety tools: Features like AudioProtect, trip monitoring, and SOS remain active.
- Insurance coverage: Passengers are protected with cross-border insurance extensions.
Grab’s website states that fares will vary depending on several factors, including the time of day, the distance of the trip, and if it falls during a holiday season.
The operator added that fares will be charged in the local currency and only cashless payments will be accepted. If the payment is made with a foreign method, foreign card fees will apply. For card payments, this adds an extra 3 per cent. Wallets such as Alipay and Kakao Pay will incur an extra 2 per cent charge.
Toll fees, including for ERP, are already included in the total fare.
While Singapore-registered cross-border taxis with Grab will be able to pick passengers up anywhere in Singapore and drop them off anywhere in the five areas approved in Johor, they will not be able to do the same over there.
Only Malaysia-registered cross-border taxis with Grab can do pickups anywhere in Johor. The operator advised travellers to book their rides from Larkin Sentral Terminal, Toppen Shopping Centre, Angsana Mall, or The Mall at Mid Valley Southkey.
Grab stated that Singaporean and Malaysian governments will issue 300 licences to taxi drivers in each country in 2026. In a first for GrabCab – Grab’s taxi fleet launched in 2025 – a number of its drivers have also been issued licenses from Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Agency.
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30 Apr 2026 19:00
