Gojek’s driver-partners are seen standing next to their GoCar vehicles. Gojek rolled out GoCar, its ride-hailing service, in HCMC yesterday, August 19, aimed at serving frontline healthcare workers in the city amid the on-going fourth coronavirus wave – PHOTO: COURTESY OF GOJEK

HCMC – Ride-hailing service firm Gojek rolled out GoCar, its four-wheel ride-hailing service, in HCMC yesterday, August 19, to serve frontline healthcare workers in the city amid the on-going fourth coronavirus wave.

The service will be available exclusively to medical frontliners for now, before expanding to serve the general public later this year. The launch is an extension of Gojek’s continued commitment to supporting communities and playing a role in responding to the pandemic.

GoCar is launching a fleet of 50 vehicles. This new service will be offered to healthcare workers from five hospitals and medical command centers in the city, including three Covid-19 Intensive Care Units supported by the Bach Mai Hospital, the Viet Duc Hospital and the Hue Central Hospital; the HCMC Department of Health; and the HCMC Center for Disease Control. The list of hospitals and medical facilities being served may be extended further, under the guidance of the municipal Health Department.

GoCar's first users will also be offered complimentary access to GoCar Protect, GoCar’s premium service, which includes enhanced safety and hygiene features. All GoCar Protect vehicles are equipped with a SHARP air purifier, which is designed to neutralize airborne viruses. In addition, all the cars will have hand sanitizers and protective divider curtains to separate drivers and riders and prevent the spread of the virus.

All driver-partners are required to follow Gojek’s strict health and hygiene protocols, which include taking a PCR test before their first trip and on a weekly basis after that, wearing protective gear and adhering to the practice of the health authority’s anti-virus measures.

Further, to support the city’s drive to slow the spread of the virus, Gojek has arranged for driver-partners to stay at hotels from now until late September when the city’s stay-at-home mandate is anticipated to ease.

Phung Tuan Duc, Gojek Vietnam General Manager, said, “We have made all the necessary preparations to launch GoCar this year. When the pandemic escalated in HCMC and social distancing regulations were put in place, we pivoted quickly, adjusting the service to focus on supporting healthcare workers. We have since been working closely with the local government to get driver-partners on the road to smoothen the city’s supply chain and support the transportation needs of healthcare professionals.”

“Healthcare workers are on the frontline in the battle against Covid-19 and are risking their own safety so that the community can stay safe. We are grateful to them and want to do our part to make it easy for them to get to and from work, so that they can focus on the far more important business of treating patients,” he added.

Tran Quang Lam, director of the HCMC Transport Department, said, “The transportation needs of healthcare workers in the city are substantial as the city is mobilizing medical resources to fight against Covid-19. We appreciate Gojek’s proactive collaboration and support to facilitate the essential travel of healthcare workers, as they support our citizens. We hope that Gojek’s initiative will inspire other organizations to join hands with the government to make the city safe and to assist communities in every possible way.”

GoCar is the latest addition to Gojek’s line-up of offerings in the Vietnam market, which include on-demand services for motorbike-hailing (GoRide), parcel delivery (GoSend) and online food delivery (GoFood).