MANILA - Grab is gearing up for the busy Christmas season by adding 10,000 more cars to its fleet. According to the company's new Country Head, Ronald Roda, the first wave of 5,000 cars is already on the way, with the potential for another 5,000 to be deployed as the holiday rush intensifies.
Roda emphasized that the Christmas season is crucial for Grab, as demand typically surges by three to four times compared to the rest of the year. He noted that during this time, people rely heavily on Grab’s services for both transport and delivery needs, making it a peak period for the company.
"I think people expect Grab to be able to ferry customers and deliver food and packages through the December holidays," Roda said during an interview on ANC’s “Market Edge.” "This is when we are at our busiest, and the expectation grows every year because people are increasingly dependent on us."
He added that while the company traditionally focused on transporting passengers and delivering packages during the holidays, there is now a deeper purpose in ensuring customer satisfaction. "The way I look at Christmas these days is: how do we deliver joy to the customers?" Roda said.
Despite the increase in demand, Roda indicated that higher customer volume might not necessarily lead to price hikes. He explained that Grab is exploring various ways to keep its services affordable during the holidays. One option is GrabCar Saver, where passengers who are willing to wait a little longer—around 10 minutes—can enjoy lower fares. Another feature, Share With Friends, allows passengers to share rides with others heading in the same direction, helping to maximize the fleet’s capacity.
Roda acknowledged that while demand increases during the holidays, the goal is to make transportation accessible and affordable without relying solely on surge pricing.
To support this push for increased supply, Grab is working to bring its fleet back to pre-pandemic levels. Roda explained that while the company is still not close to the number of vehicles it had in 2019, the addition of 10,000 cars will help move the company toward that target. "We are not even approaching what we were in 2019," he admitted. "But with these new cars, we are hopeful to reach pre-pandemic levels and meet the increased demand."
Roda also expressed optimism about the company’s financial performance, noting that Grab is on track to become profitable by next year. "We’ve been on a journey to become profitable, and we’re confident that 2025 will be the year we get there."
With a presence in 120 cities and municipalities across the country, Grab continues to play a significant role in the Philippines' ride-hailing and delivery services, especially during the holiday season when demand for these services reaches its peak.
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