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According to reports, Grab and Uber apps are no longer available at local Google Play Store or Apple Store by Tuesday night

The Thai government through the Department of Land Transport (DLT) deputy chief Nanthapong Cherdchoo issued an order for motorbike taxi app companies such as UberMOTO and GrabBike to stop operating due to violation of public transport regulation, according to a report by Bangkok Post.

The order was issued after a meeting with UberMOTO representatives on Tuesday, which was also attended by Colonel Kanthachai Prachuab-aree (Deputy Commander of the First Division, King’s Guard) as well as representatives from the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

“This will be the last discussion with both service operators. After this, they will face stringent legal action if they breach the law,” said Colonel Prachuab-aree.

He cited unfair competition between these companies’ drivers and legally registered motorbike taxi drivers, believing that it may possess “a risk to national security” shall any friction happens.

He also stated that the companies had failed to pay taxes according to regulation and that their business “stole jobs from Thais.”

As a solution, the DLT stated that they are preparing to launch their own motorbike taxi app, though no further detail on the launch date was not mentioned.

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It is also reported that by Tuesday night, Uber and Grab apps are no longer available on local Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

During the meeting, DLT claimed that it has invited representatives from both UberMOTO and GrabBike, but only UberMOTO representative showed up.

The UberMOTO representative himself said that he would discuss the issue with the company’s executives in Singapore, claiming the firm had not been aware that its service violated the law.

e27 has been reaching out to Grab for comments.

More on this story as it develops.

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Image Credit: Bethany Legg on Unsplash

The post Developing: Thailand bans motorbike taxi apps, giving them ‘last notice’ appeared first on e27.

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