Singapore taxi drivers get side gig delivering food and groceries

Coronavirus a new headwind for ComfortDelGro amid fight with Grab

20200417 ComfortDelgro

ComfortDelGro is helping its drivers find meal- and grocery-delivery jobs to cushion the blow from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit significantly demand for taxi service hard. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura) 

KENTARO IWAMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

SINGAPORE -- Singapore's largest land transport operator, ComfortDelGro, is helping its taxi drivers find work delivering meals and groceries as the COVID-19 pandemic crushed demand for taxi service.

The goal is to help cabbies supplement their income and maintain its fleet of cars. ComfortDelGro controls 60% of the roughly 18,000 taxis operating in Singapore. But it faces stiff competition from ride-hailing giant Grab, which is also based in the city-state. The pandemic is the latest challenge for ComfortDelGro, one that could force some drivers out of the business.

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