EV taxis on the way for inDrive

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Elijah Felice Rosales - The Philippine Star

April 14, 2026 | 12:00am

Sofia Guinto, inDrive country manager for the Philippines, yesterday said the platform’s plan to expand e-vehicle taxis in the Philippines is gaining traction.

STAR / File

MANILA, Philippines — Ride-hailing giant inDrive plans to roll out electric vehicles in Metro Manila by the second half of the year to offer drivers alternative units that are cheaper to operate than traditional cars.

Sofia Guinto, inDrive country manager for the Philippines, yesterday said the platform’s plan to expand e-vehicle taxis in the Philippines is gaining traction.

Guinto said inDrive is on track to introduce e-vehicle taxis to Metro Manila by the second half, a move that could disrupt the mobility landscape yet again in the region.

In particular, drivers are expected to benefit from inDrive’s plan to expand on the e-vehicle front. E-vehicles, Guinto said, are cheaper to operate by as much as 30 percent compared to petrol cars, so drivers can earn more from savings at a time of elevated fuel prices.

“For this year, we are just maintaining our plan to test them in Baguio first and then roll them out in Metro Manila. For 2026, that’s our plan, (and) hopefully by the second half we will be able to bring EVs to Metro Manila,” Guinto said in an interview on Money Talks.

Right now, inDrive is talking to car makers and taxi operators it can partner with to strengthen its plan of scaling up its e-vehicle network.

Last year, inDrive started testing its e-vehicle taxis in Baguio City, using the mountainous terrain of the country’s summer capital to assess the longevity and viability of the units.

The Philippines is the fifth Asian market where inDrive is introducing e-vehicle taxis, following rollouts in India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Thailand.

For the year, inDrive aims to expand its e-vehicle fleet in the country to as many as 1,000 units. E-vehicles are being propped up for producing less carbon, emitting just 50 grams per kilometer, as opposed to petrol cars’ 165 grams and diesel units’ 170 grams.

Guinto said inDrive is also eyeing to increase the coverage of its incentive program called Purple Zone. The program gives more earnings to drivers who take bookings in high-demand areas.

inDrive is slashing commission rates to as low as one percent for drivers who accept bookings in high-traffic locations, boosting earnings to cope with elevated fuel prices.

Outside of this, inDrive is keeping its standard commission at 10 percent, still the lowest among ride-hailing apps.

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