Company gets approval for ride hailing service in Okanagan

The Okanagan is a step closer to getting ride hailing service.

The Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) has approved an application from Vancouver-based Kabu Ride Inc. to operate in five B.C. regions including Region 4: the Okanagan, Kootenays and Cariboo.

Kabu says it plans to operate immediately in the Lower Mainland, Victoria and Nanaimo, and will expand to Kelowna and Kamloops within the first year of launch with 40 vehicles on the road by the end of this year.

“Its launch in Region 5 (BC North Central and other regions) could happen in 2021 or sooner, with an initial fleet size of 25 vehicles,” said the PTB’s decision. “Kabu anticipates addressing the competition that it will face from the major TNS in the following ways: It will advertise to travelers at the most common source airports in their native language. KABU’s target market has a low level of marketing investment from its major competitors. Global translations and web-based apps targeted to different ethnic groups will be used. KABU’s benefits package, incentives and lower commission rates will lead to higher driver retention than its competitors.”