GoCatch will be the first company to rival Uber in Australia with the launch of GoCar which is the “country’s first locally-owned ride-sharing service”. On their website they describe GoCar as an, “Australian alternative that allows everyday Sydney-siders use their own vehicle to earn extra cash, and give passengers another way of getting from A to B.”
CEO Ned Moorfield said, “Uber has had a grip on the market for long enough. Having a locally-owned Australian made ride-sharing platform will provide much needed choice and competition.” NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Victor Dominello welcomed the introduction of GoCar saying, “Last year we moved to legalise ridesharing services and it is pleasing to see new players, such as GoCatch, entering the market following that decision.”
Although over 350,000 Australians have downloaded the GoCatch app, with Uber’s current market share only time will tell to see how successful GoCar goes. However GoCatch is hoping to grab customers by being cheaper than Uber X due to no surge pricing. Drivers will also only be charged 15% compared to Uber’s 20%.
What does one need to become an accredited driver? The driver will be assessed including their age, eligibility, driving record and visual inspection. Of course the vehicle will also need a visual inspection as well as ownership, registration, insurance and maintenance checks. The service will just be for Sydney’s CBD, Inner West and Eastern Suburbs although they hope to eventually expand nation wide.
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