Taiwan authorized plan to launch National MaaS Platform
Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC) authorized a MaaS plan for four counties and cities in Taiwan including Kaohsiung City, Taichung City, Penghu County, and Taitung County. It is interesting to see how MaaS will evolve in Taiwan as it is one of the few countries, where ride-sharing companies can not operate.
The key to developing MaaS in a city or country is important to figure out how to integrate the three Ps (PPP) – people, public (government), and private (enterprises). First, the people must have a need for it. Second, the government must push regulations and guide construction. Then enterprises should participate and create a business model for it. Together, the three create an ecosystem that makes it possible for a MaaS platform to truly operate.~ Meng-Fen Wu, Chief consultant, Taiwan Telematics Industry Association (TTIA)
The pandemic has had a negative impact on the public transit sector in Taiwan as the number of public transportation has reduced by 70-80%. The government is planning to expand MaaS platform to bring back riders in shared ride services. Currently, there are two MaaS projects running in two of their main cities:
- Taipei City: All Pass (NT$1280)
- Kaohsuing City: MeN Go plan (NT$1250)
Cardholders can take unlimited mileage and unlimited number of rides on “MRT, light rail, city bus” within 30 days. Four free rides on the ferry (Passengers only, excluding locomotives and bicycles, applicable to Gushan-Qijin, Qianzhen-Zhongzhou routes) and YouBike 2.0 members borrow a car in Kaohsiung City, the first 30 minutes are free.