GrabHitch JB-SG, which will launch on June 20, lets drivers with extra space in their vehicles pick up fellow passengers who are also travelling across the Causesway in both directions. ― TODAY pic

SINGAPORE, June 13 — Commuters heading to-and-from Singapore and Johor will soon have the option to carpool with other passengers thanks to Grab’s first cross-border ride-sharing service announced today.

GrabHitch JB-SG, which will launch on June 20, lets drivers with extra space in their vehicles pick up fellow passengers who are also travelling across the Causesway in both directions. With GrabHitch JB-SG, both drivers and passengers can “pay less for their daily commute, meet new people, and enjoy the safety, comfort and convenience of point-to-point transportation”, the company said in a media release.

Passengers can pre-book rides up to seven days in advance, and up to 30 minutes before the pickup time by selecting a pickup and drop-off location. Drivers and passengers will be notified when a successful match of the route is found.

Fares are calculated based on the distance of the ride and a fixed cross-border surcharge.

According to Grab, a ride from the Johor Baru City Square to Orchard Road could cost a passenger around RM20, and S$14 (RM42,20) in the opposite direction. Fares will be shown upfront to ensure transparency, said Grab.

Grab will be running a special promotion for Johor-bound rides from June 20 to August 20, where passengers can enjoy S$5 off all weekday trips that are above 10km. Commuters must enter the promo code “hitch2jb” when making a booking to enjoy the promo. ― TODAY