Drivers of Southeast Asia-based Grab can now become mini convenience stores.
That because theride-hailingcompany, which bought out rival Uber local business earlier this year, has teamed up with U.S.
startup Cargo to sell a selection of items to passengers during their ride.New York-based Cargo claims it can help drivers earn up to $300 in additional wages per month by selling items like snacks, drinks, beauty items, phone chargers and more.Drivers add a Cargo box which includes free samples and paid productsto their car for free.
(Refills are free, too.) They make a 25 commission on all paid sales, plus $1 every time a passenger places an order or free sample request via the Cargo website.That about it.Cargo has done deals with Lyft and Uber drivers in the U.S., but this marks its first move overseas.
For now the partnership takes effect in Singapore but a Grab representative told TechCrunch that, all being well, it will expand across Southeast Asia, where Grab serves eight countries.Cargo is targeting 100,000 cars this year, in January it claimed tohave 2,500 cars on the road in New YOrk Chicago, Boston and Minneapolis, with 20,000 driver signups from all 50 states.
The company raised $5.5 million this year to facilitate that growth.