The End of Bolt?

[Bruce Mangosteen]

4 hours ago, Rawhide2 said:

Appears that Bolt may well have licence revoked this May as so many of the drivers didnt comply with the requested changes previously

https://thethaiger.com/news/national/bolt-licence-2193-legal-cases-dlt

Thailand’s Department of Land Transport (DLT) announced yesterday, April 29, that it may refuse to renew Bolt’s licence after finding 2,193 legal cases linked to the ride-hailing platform since the start of the year.

Department director-general Sorapong Paitoonpong issued the warning during a press conference on measures to regulate ride-hailing platforms.

[...]

Sorapong said offences had continued despite the government allowing drivers to enter the system under rules issued by the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) over the past three to four months.

The Ministry of Transport is now preparing stricter enforcement, especially against platforms that fail to supervise drivers properly or comply with legal conditions.

Bolt’s licence to operate app-based taxi services is due to expire on May 11. The DLT said that Bolt’s licence renewal in Thailand may not be approved if the company cannot show credible improvements in safety standards, transparency, and driver supervision.

More at link.

[jacko]

Above  appears to say 'maybe' and 'might', but Tim Newton seemed to be more certain yesterday. Same was on PBS. Maybe some back pedaling going on here. I hope so.  The recent case of some kid using a fathers app to go pick up a young lady highlighted problems.

[Rawhide2]

1 hour ago, jacko said:

Above  appears to say 'maybe' and 'might', but Tim Newton seemed to be more certain yesterday. Same was on PBS. Maybe some back pedaling going on here. I hope so.  The recent case of some kid using a fathers app to go pick up a young lady highlighted problems.

Lets hope they can sort this out. Where I stayed in Condo before and where I want to again really requires Bolt or similar if I'm with someone. If I'm out locally in Jomtien and going home alone no problem I can and do walk but cant expect some girl to do likewise

As an example getting from Rhompoo markets bars back to Laguna Maldives would be nigh on impoosible trying to get a baht bus......(I refuse to use motorbikes unless absolutely necessary)

Grab when I downloaded the app before seemed very expensive by comparison

[Bruce Mangosteen]

4 hours ago, jacko said:

Maybe some back pedaling going on here. I hope so.

IMHO the entire point of this exercise is that the taxi operators persuaded the government to kill ride-sharing services.  But the government needed political cover, so they put in place a set of hurdles they calculated the ride-sharing services would never be able to clear, and that appears to have panned out.

Don't get me wrong, I was a frequent user of Grab when it first appeared, and I'm a strong proponent of the so-called "gig economy".  This just appears too much like a government put-up job designed to solve a political problem to me.

[Bazle]

5 hours ago, Bruce Mangosteen said:

IMHO the entire point of this exercise is that the taxi operators persuaded the government to kill ride-sharing services.  But the government needed political cover, so they put in place a set of hurdles they calculated the ride-sharing services would never be able to clear, and that appears to have panned out.

Don't get me wrong, I was a frequent user of Grab when it first appeared, and I'm a strong proponent of the so-called "gig economy".  This just appears too much like a government put-up job designed to solve a political problem to me.

My thoughts were exactly the same.

[jacko]

Well Bolt still send out their promotional emails....

[teelack]

Because the weather is fine and the roads less crowded I have walked everywhere this trip. Friends however tell me that nothing has really changed yet with Bolt and even the prices have remained stable. 

Let's just hope that it continues. 

[Rawhide2]

On the Asean forum over Bolts (possible) demise another ride hailing app is being suggested

"Indrive"

I've downloaded it but without being in Thailand have no personal experience

[Rawhide2]

Yet again another troll adds a stupid emoji for no reason...utterly boring even more so that under the context of the thread was trying to offer an alternative

Danger to Mods reading this is the original poster aborts the forum altogether. You surely can see who adds these emoji

Or add the name to the emoji so the cretin can be subsequently blocked

Thats a very polite response

[Rawhide2]

Out of interest I tried to register for that Indrive app

Initially it wanted a UK mobile number (am surmising app could detect I was in UK) so entered and clicked.....it claimed it was sending through a 4 digit code via Whatsapp

Didnt come through so clicked resend but this time red lettering came up "Telegram app not detected on phone"

No idea what thats about

Maybe someone in Thailand can download and try with a Thai number

[Rawhide2]

Good news re that Indrive

Managed to get it working and after confirming my location (rather than app indicating I was in UK) as Laguna Maldives Jomtien and wanting to go Henrys Bar opposite start of Soi Bongkot it came up at 98 Baht with 4 drivers available

Now under Bolt that same trip was virtually identical ranging from 90 Baht to 110 Baht normally

Also time od day allowing for time difference is virtually identical as real time now. Looks like an alternative should Bolt stop is already in place currently

[teelack]

On 5/4/2026 at 4:39 PM, Rawhide2 said:

Good news re that Indrive

Managed to get it working and after confirming my location (rather than app indicating I was in UK) as Laguna Maldives Jomtien and wanting to go Henrys Bar opposite start of Soi Bongkot it came up at 98 Baht with 4 drivers available

Now under Bolt that same trip was virtually identical ranging from 90 Baht to 110 Baht normally

Also time od day allowing for time difference is virtually identical as real time now. Looks like an alternative should Bolt stop is already in place currently

Here's the problem. Instead of one larger organisation's you will probably end up with two smaller ones. You wait for a cab with grow longer especially if there are less Farang visitors coming to Thailand 

[knortyboy]

1 hour ago, teelack said:

Here's the problem. Instead of one larger organisation's you will probably end up with two smaller ones. You wait for a cab with grow longer especially if there are less Farang visitors coming to Thailand 

Many of the drivers are already signed up with Bolt, Grab and other apps, so I'm not sure that any will be exclusive to one in the future. 

[Rawhide2]

12 hours ago, teelack said:

Here's the problem. Instead of one larger organisation's you will probably end up with two smaller ones. You wait for a cab with grow longer especially if there are less Farang visitors coming to Thailand 

Apparently that Indrive has been around for a while. Dont think anyone will be remotely surprised either if Bolt continues to operate after a few bungs and promises of now acting by the licence and rules

 

[helloitsme]

14 hours ago, knortyboy said:

Many of the drivers are already signed up with Bolt, Grab and other apps, so I'm not sure that any will be exclusive to one in the future. 

A lady I knew used to drive for both Bolt and Grab. She would always prioritise Grab journeys over Bolt, as they paid more.

[Bruce Mangosteen]

Interesting article on InDrive Thai here:  https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/business/2024/10/27/indrive-poised-growth-thailand-ride-hailing-market-for-2025/ 

The article mentions that InDrive was founded in 2012 in Siberia, and entered the Thai market in 2019 as noted above.

Here's the list of countries they operate in:  https://indrive.com/help/about-indrive/where-is-indrive-available

Clearly the company has the resources to comply with the Thai rules, at least unless/until the Thais change them every 15 minutes.

[mike_asia]

On 5/7/2026 at 12:39 AM, Bruce Mangosteen said:

Interesting article on InDrive Thai here:  https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/business/2024/10/27/indrive-poised-growth-thailand-ride-hailing-market-for-2025/ 

The article mentions that InDrive was founded in 2012 in Siberia, and entered the Thai market in 2019 as noted above.

Here's the list of countries they operate in:  https://indrive.com/help/about-indrive/where-is-indrive-available

Clearly the company has the resources to comply with the Thai rules, at least unless/until the Thais change them every 15 minutes.

InDrive is a great app however it works differently than bolt and grab. Drivers bid on the ride and you can accept the bid you want based on price and pickup time

[Bruce Mangosteen]

8 hours ago, mike_asia said:

InDrive is a great app however it works differently than bolt and grab. Drivers bid on the ride and you can accept the bid you want based on price and pickup time

Dayum son!  8 years between posts!  😀

[jacko]

It appear Bolt got a reprieve... for now. 

https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2026/05/bolt-confirms-continued-operations-in-thailand/

[Bazle]

Not confined to Bolt - 

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/transport/transport-ministry-ride-hailing-app-safety-rules

Ride-hailing apps given one month to improve safety standards

Thailand’s Transport Ministry has given ride-hailing platforms one month to improve passenger safety measures or risk licence suspension, as new rules are prepared for app-based taxi services.

The planned measures include requiring drivers to hold public driving licences, installing CCTV cameras in vehicles, and providing passenger insurance coverage.

[Bruce Mangosteen]

1 hour ago, Bazle said:

Not confined to Bolt - 

Perhaps not unexpectedly, the article does seem to indicate that it applies to app-based ride-hailing services, but not regular taxi services or motorbike taxis.

"The measures will apply to all ride-hailing platforms, not only Bolt. Other operators currently renewing licences (sic) can continue normal services during the adjustment period."