Gojek to buy 5% of local taxi company Blue Bird for $30m, sources say

Indonesian tech unicorn Gojek is closing in on a deal to acquire 5% of Blue Bird, one of the country’s largest taxi firms, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Gojek co-CEOs Andre Soelistyo (left) and Kevin Aluwi / Photo credit: Gojek

Under the deal, the ride-hailing giant would be shelling out US$30 million, the people said, which is about 20% more than what Blue Bird closed at in Jakarta today. The deal would value the taxi operator at around US$600 million, according to the report.

If a deal is finalized, it would build on an existing partnership between the two companies, which enables users to book Blue Bird taxis on the Gojek app. The alliance was first announced back in 2016 but was launched later in January 2017.

Tech in Asia reached out to Gojek for a statement but the company said it doesn’t comment on speculations.

Recently, Gojek announced a partnership with Singapore taxi company Trans-Cab, adding more than 3,000 drivers on the ride-hailing firm’s platform. Gojek said it is looking to launch new services and features in the city-state – where its rival Grab is headquartered – including the option to book different vehicle types.

See also: Gojek quietly lays the groundwork for its digital banking ambitions

Early last month, Gojek revealed upcoming plans for its business, which included expanding its services in Indonesia through partnerships with third-party platforms. The company also said it plans to “invest in other facilities and long-term initiatives that will ensure the best customer experience” for its app.

In addition, Gojek reapplied to enter the Philippines and is set to trial operations in Malaysia starting next year.