inDrive Finally Launches Officially in Nepal; Starts Taking Commission

inDrive (previously known as inDriver), the popular international ride-hailing app, has finally officially launched in Nepal. With the launch, the company has now started to take up to a 10 percent commission from its riders and taxi drivers.

Previously, operating unofficially since April 2022 without registering as a legal entity in Nepal, inDrive did not charge any commission from its users.

Pavit Nanda Anand, APAC communications lead, inDrive, shared, “As a brand, at inDrive our mission is to challenge injustice to make the world a fairer place for 1 billion+ people. We are excited to announce that inDrive is now officially in Nepal. inDrive gives freedom of choice to people all around the world. Nepal’s market is extremely important for us, and we believe that our services will bring innovation and employment to the Nepali market.”

During the launch event on May 6, 2024, in Kathmandu, Rita Pokhrel, director of inDrive Nepal, announced the company’s partnership with mobile wallet IME Pay as its payment partner. This partnership enables riders and drivers to make settlements through IME Pay.

Pokhrel also assured that inDrive would soon provide accident insurance services to its users. Pokhrel shared with TechLekh that inDrive currently has over 30 employees in Nepal and is now located in Hattisar, Kathmandu.

Plans for Expansion

Currently serving in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Bharatpur, inDrive has plans for expansion to more cities across Nepal. In addition to taxi and motorcycle rides, the platform offers delivery services and city-to-city rides (outstation rides) within the Kathmandu Valley.

Just before the third edition of the Nepal Investment Summit, Nepal made legislative changes to its FDI and investment policies, allowing 70 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in ride-sharing services. As reported by Kantipur, inDrive brought Rs. 50 million in FDI as total investment.

Founded in 2013, inDrive is an international ride-hailing service company that is currently operating in over 45 countries, including Nepal. With its head office located in Mountain View, California, US, the company no longer has any legal presence in Russia, where it was originally founded.

Unlike other ride-hailing apps that automatically determine the fare for a ride, inDrive allows passengers and drivers to negotiate and agree on the fare through its app. In 2022 and 2023, inDrive was the second most downloaded ride-hailing app worldwide based on Google Play and App Store data.

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