While Indo-Canadian-owned Kater was rejected two weeks ago when Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. got approval but now another Desi company Apt Rides will make history as the first Punjabi-Indo-Canadian owned ride-hailing company to operate in BC along with another ethnic company from Richmond. The Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) has given the nod to Garrindar Singh Parhar’s Apt Rides as well as Richmond-based Kabu-Ride Inc. The Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) noted in its approval that Parhar has 20 years’ experience in the transportation industry, starting as a taxi driver and moving up to become a senior dispatcher responsible for a fleet of 120 vehicles.

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff With News Files

VANCOUVER – While Indo-Canadian-owned Kater was rejected two weeks ago when Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. got approval but now another Desi company Apt Rides will make history as the first Punjabi-Indo-Canadian owned ride-hailing company to operate in BC along with another ethnic company from Richmond. 

The Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) has given the nod to Garrindar Singh Parhar’s Apt Rides as well as Richmond-based Kabu-Ride Inc.

Parhar’s company plans to target the North Shore and Vancouver with its ride-hailing services.

Asked how he was able to secure a license to operate while the bigger Kater was rejected, Parhar told DESIBUZZCanada it all came down to experience, scale and being realistic in revenue projections.

“We plan on keeping our costs low by keeping a small staff to begin with and working hard to create a niche for our company in the market rather than have too many employees making too much money,” Parhar said. “Being the only local Punjabi company approved in the Lower Mainland helps too.”

Parhar is not bragging, the regulator also noted in its approval that Parhar has 20 years’ experience in the transportation industry, starting as a taxi driver and moving up to become a senior dispatcher responsible for a fleet of 120 vehicles.

Meanwhile Kabu’s parent company, Gokabu Group Holdings Inc., had been offering rides in the grey market for three years until last September, when it suspended operations to abide by new provincial regulations and apply for a ride-hailing licence, reported Business in Vancouver.

The company had been targeting the non-English-speaking market — specifically Mandarin and Cantonese.

The provincial regulator also noted in its approval that Kabu plans to offer services in Victoria, Nanaimo and the Okanagan by the end of 2020.

Kabu CEO Austin said the number of driver applicants was in the hundreds and expects drivers would make $25 an hour on average driving for Kabu Ride.

“As more new drivers join us, we plan to add French, Filipino, Punjabi, Hindi, Korean, Japanese, Spanish [-speaking drivers],” Zhang said at the time.

While Kabu Rides and Apt Rides got the nod, the PTB declined to grant licences to Payam Azad (operating as dba Transroad), Inorbis Corporation and Tappcar Inc.

In late January the regulator also rejected the applications of Kater Technologies Inc. and ReRyde Technologies Inc.

The only other B.C. companies to get approval from the PTB so far is Green Coast Ventures Inc., a Tofino-based company operating under the name Whistle.

It plans to offer ride hailing in smaller resort communities outside the Lower Mainland, such as Tofino, Ucluelet, Whistler, Pemberton and Squamish, reported Business in Vancouver.