
JAKARTA -- U.S. ride-hailing service Via Transportation began operating in Indonesia on Wednesday, offering minibus ride shares in Bekasi, an eastern suburb of Jakarta, the latest example of a company from outside the region looking for opportunities in Southeast Asia's growing ride-hailing market.
Traffic congestion plagues many Southeast Asian cities, with Jakarta among the worst offenders. Traffic jams are estimated to cost the Indonesian economy $4.5 billion a year.