Ride-sharing appeared to have taken a hit during the pandemic, but a new company that launched its services in Ottawa, Ont., on Canada Day is promoting itself as green and socially responsible.
Facedrive is a Canadian-owned company promoting its values as closely aligned with those of Canadians, particularly when it comes to putting people and the planet first.
“We are delighted to be launching Facedrive in the national capital region on Canada Day,” said Suman Pushparajah, Chief Operating Officer of Facedrive. “Bringing our ESG (environmental, social and governance) strategy to life in the city will provide Ottawans with a sustainable alternative, and we’re excited to get started.”
The company said its ride-sharing platform will enable consumers to get to their location safely, reliably, and sustainably. It also emphasizes its focus on the rider experience — making safety a priority and limiting fare increases. “Unlike other ride-sharing platforms, Facedrive does not use surge pricing,” said the company in a news release.
Uber uses surge pricing, which the company has received its share of criticism for. It has also received criticism from workers over its COVID-19 safety response early in the pandemic, according to a Business Insider. In mid-May a new rule was introduced: the company said Uber drivers and passengers in North America must wear a mask.
“Putting people first means offering more to the people who make it possible: the drivers,” said Facedrive. “For every trip, Facedrive drivers earn up to 90% of the trip fare based on their vehicle type — and 100% of tips. Training for drivers goes beyond normal safety precautions, including COVID-19 prevention and response measures.”
Facedrive offers a multi-step driver onboarding process to ensure they receive proper training and protection. In many ways the company’s strategy appears to be an evolution of other ride-sharing companies, learning from their mistakes and focusing on what customers and drivers have been asking for.
The ride-sharing service is currently offering its services in Toronto, London, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Orillia, Guelph, and now Ottawa.
