Uber starts motorbike-hailing service, picks Thailand for launch

SINGAPORE Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] on Wednesday launched “uberMOTO”, its first motorcycle-hailing service, choosing Bangkok for a pilot project it says it’s developing specifically for cities in emerging markets.

Two-wheeled taxis are a popular option in several of Southeast Asia’s traffic-clogged cities. Grab, Uber’s competitor in the region, already lets users book motorcycle taxis in some countries, including Thailand.

Uber’s motorbike service launch comes a few weeks after it rolled out the option to pay with cash in Thailand.

(Reporting by Aradhana Aravindan- Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)