End of Bolt
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Undaunted
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End of Bolt
Government has decided not to renew Bolt’s operating license which will expire in 17 days. Bolt will look at safety complaints in a hope of a reprieve.
"In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king"
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Gaybutton
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Re: End of Bolt
If it turns out that BOLT is really in non-compliance with the rules, then it's their own fault and they may indeed be forced to cease operations. Whether that would be temporary or permanent is not specified. Irresponsible drivers cause problems.
Perhaps BOLT assumed there are too many people dependent on them and they are "too big to fail" and Thai authorities would not intervene.
BOLT is still operating normally. It remains to be seen what and when, if anything, will take place.
3 articles about this:
__________________
Thai Authorities Threaten to Block Bolt Platform After Rider’s Dangerous Joyride with Schoolgirl Passenger
By Adam Judd
April 19, 2026
Senior Thai officials have issued a strong warning to ride-hailing platform Bolt, threatening to block its operations in the country following a disturbing incident in which a rider allegedly drove past a young passenger’s destination, consumed kratom (a stimulant drink), and caused the terrified 17-year-old schoolgirl to jump from the moving motorcycle and sustain injuries in what was a highly viral incident, and just the latest in a series of high profile problems say officials.
The incident occurred around 1 a.m. on April 23rd, 2026, in Bangkok’s Nong Khaem district. The student had booked a Bolt motorcycle ride from the Rama 2 area to her home in Bang Bon 5, Nong Khaem. According to reports, the arriving rider used a red Honda Wave motorcycle and was operating under someone else’s account, reportedly his father’s Bolt ID, a practice that Thai officials have previously said was a recurring problem with Bolt drivers.
During the trip, the rider stopped at a petrol station to buy and consume “nam krathom” (kratom drink). The increasingly uncomfortable student began recording the rider on her phone. Instead of stopping at her destination, the rider sped past it for several kilometers. When she repeatedly asked him to stop, he allegedly tried to snatch her phone. At a red light intersection on Phet Kasem Road 81, the girl jumped off the moving bike in fear, tumbling onto the road and sustaining injuries including a swollen head. Bystanders and a fellow rider with a dashcam assisted her and helped file a police report at Nong Khaem Police Station. The dashcam video and mobile phone video later went viral.
Police later identified the 22- or 25-year-old rider (reports vary slightly) as using his father’s account. He claimed the student had pinned the wrong location and denied harmful intent, but admitted to kratom and cannabis use while driving. He faces charges including unlawful detention.
The case has brought a sharp reaction from senior Thai officials. On April 29th, Patchara Anantasilpa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE), publicly criticized Bolt for failing to manage risks properly.
He stated the incident “should not have happened” and spoke about Bolt’s alleged non-compliance with agreed safety conditions, despite extensions granted until late March 2026 for proper registration. Patchara warned that authorities may block the platform entirely if standards are not met, potentially using the Computer Crime Act or upgrading existing regulations.
Dr. Chaichana Mitrpant, Executive Director of the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), noted that current laws mainly allow only business notifications and identity checks. ETDA has summoned Bolt for clarification and demanded urgent improvements, including:
– Strict identity verification (matching the registered driver for every ride, using biometrics if possible)
– Prevention of account sharing, again possibly by using biometrics and regular check ins on the app to ensure the proper driver is driving.
– Ensuring only properly licensed public vehicles (Ror Yor 17/18) and drivers are used
– Suspending riders who break regulations and guidelines, including consumption of drugs or alcohol on duty, and alerting other platforms
Non-compliance could lead to a business ban, with a 90-day remediation period before further action.
Sorapong Paitoonphong, Director-General of the Department of Land Transport, added that Bolt’s operating certificate expires at the end of May 2026. With over 2,000 violations linked to Bolt out of roughly 6,700 total complaints on ride-hailing cases, renewal is at risk if improvements are not made.
Bolt Thailand’s General Manager, Nathadon Suksiritarnan, said the company had suspended the rider’s account, expressed sympathy for the victim, and claimed it had already blocked over 40,000 non-compliant drivers. The firm, however, positioned itself as a marketplace using independent contractors rather than a direct employer but has pledged further cooperation with authorities.
This shows ongoing challenges in Thailand’s ride-hailing sector, where account sharing, unlicensed drivers, and inadequate vetting remain issues despite new Ride Sharing Platform regulations enforced since March 31st, 2026. Officials are pushing for stronger civil and criminal penalties against platforms to enhance passenger safety and prevent repeats.
The case has sparked widespread public concern, with social media users calling for better protections, especially for young female passengers using these services late at night.
https://thepattayanews.com/2026/04/29/t ... passenger/
_________________________________________________________________
Tighter scrutiny for ride-hailing firms
by Komsan Tortermvasana
Authorities have asked ride-hailing platforms to strictly implement driver identity verification or they risk service suspension following a string of safety concerns and the discovery of driver identity theft.
The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry plans to revise all related laws to ensure punishment for those failing to comply with the regulations.
A video was posted on Facebook of a schoolgirl jumping off a moving motorcycle driven by a driver from the Bolt platform at a red-light intersection at Phetkasem Soi 81, allegedly because she was alarmed by the driver's behaviour.
The driver was alleged to have used the ID of another ride-hailing driver to provide the service.
The DES Ministry, the Department of Land Transport (DLT) and the Royal Thai Police held a press conference on the case on Wednesday with Bolt and vowed to step up legal pressure on ride-hailing platforms to address "insufficiently rigorous" driver screening processes.
DES permanent secretary Patchara Anuntasilpa said officials found some people were circumventing security protocols by using the credentials and identities of other drivers to pick up passengers.
The authorities acknowledged that current laws were designed for businesses to inform authorities of their business details, rather than focusing on imposing punishment. The law has limitations in penalising digital business models.
Sorapong Paitoonphong, director-general of the DLT, said there are roughly 19,000 ride-hailing drivers nationwide holding public driving licences, with half driving motorcycles and half driving cars.
According to the DLT, from 2022 to the present there were roughly 6,700 complaints about services, of which about one-third are allegedly related to Bolt.
Bolt is in the process of renewing its business licence with the DLT as its licence expires in mid-May.
During this time, the company must present information and confirm details of its improved safety measures with the department.
If the department finds the improvements are unsatisfactory, it may discuss with relevant agencies postponing the licence renewal.
Nathadon Suksiritarnan, general manager of Bolt Thailand, said its management is looking into the details of every incident to improve safety standards.
The company is also promoting its initiative to assist drivers in obtaining the correct public transport licences and legal registration.
To bolster passenger confidence, Bolt is integrating AI technology and enhanced safety features, including real-time tracking and direct emergency links to the police.
The company has banned around 40,000 drivers in the past due to their failure to comply with the related regulations.
STRICTER MEASURES
Chaichana Mitrpant, executive director of the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), said the incident involving the schoolgirl jumping off the ride-hailing motorcycle has underscored the urgent need to intensify regulatory oversight to restore public confidence.
As the regulator of digital platforms, the ETDA has undertaken strict legal enforcement.
Mr Chaichana said the agency instructed platform providers to urgently ensure drivers are verified as the same individuals registered on the platform for every trip, preventing account impersonation, and enforcing the use of properly registered vehicles and licensed drivers.
Following the schoolgirl incident, the ETDA issued formal orders requiring Bolt to clarify the facts and implement immediate remedial actions.
These include suspending the accounts of drivers involved, notifying other platforms to prevent such drivers from migrating across systems, and expediting improvements to screening and identity verification systems to meet regulatory standards.
If authorities find any platform operators failing to comply with regulatory conditions, they may face orders to cease operations.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/ge ... ling-firms
__________________________________________________________
Thailand’s DES Ministry seeks law to penalise ride-hailing platforms
by THE NATION
April 29, 2026
Patchara Anuntasilpa, permanent secretary of the Digital Economy and Society Ministry, commenting on the case involving a driver, or rider, on the Bolt application using an assumed rider ID with malicious intent towards a passenger, said that under ETDA’s governing law, the Electronic Transactions Development Agency was responsible only for receiving business notifications and requiring riders to register and verify their identity under prescribed conditions.
The law did not yet allow civil or criminal penalties.
Therefore, under the policy of Chaichanok Chidchob, the digital economy and society minister, the ministry wanted the law amended so applications could be held liable under both civil and criminal law.
The ministry therefore needed to urgently examine the fastest possible process, whether by amending an existing DES Ministry law, the Computer-Related Crime Act, or by upgrading ETDA’s Royal Decree on the Operation of Digital Platform Service Businesses That Are Subject to Prior Notification, 2022, into an Act, so action could be taken against platforms, including shutting down applications to prevent them from providing services in Thailand.
This was because platforms still did not have effective screening systems and should screen out people without public driving licences rather than merely blocking riders after they had committed offences.
Platforms also lacked a proper risk-management system as agreed with the DES Ministry.
Chaichana Mitrpant, executive director of ETDA, said monitoring had found that platforms still did not have sufficiently stringent inspection measures as required by the notification, especially on driver identity verification.
ETDA had therefore ordered digital platforms, as service providers, to urgently tighten their checks, including verifying before every ride that the driver matches the registered account. The checks are intended to prevent driver-account impersonation and ensure that drivers and vehicles are properly registered for ride-hailing services under Department of Land Transport rules.
Following the incident, the agencies concerned had not been complacent.
ETDA had issued a letter summoning the service provider to clarify the facts and instructed it to expedite urgent measures, including suspending the accounts of drivers connected to the incident and alerting other platforms to check and prevent the driver from providing services through other systems.
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/policy/40065644
Perhaps BOLT assumed there are too many people dependent on them and they are "too big to fail" and Thai authorities would not intervene.
BOLT is still operating normally. It remains to be seen what and when, if anything, will take place.
3 articles about this:
__________________
Thai Authorities Threaten to Block Bolt Platform After Rider’s Dangerous Joyride with Schoolgirl Passenger
By Adam Judd
April 19, 2026
Senior Thai officials have issued a strong warning to ride-hailing platform Bolt, threatening to block its operations in the country following a disturbing incident in which a rider allegedly drove past a young passenger’s destination, consumed kratom (a stimulant drink), and caused the terrified 17-year-old schoolgirl to jump from the moving motorcycle and sustain injuries in what was a highly viral incident, and just the latest in a series of high profile problems say officials.
The incident occurred around 1 a.m. on April 23rd, 2026, in Bangkok’s Nong Khaem district. The student had booked a Bolt motorcycle ride from the Rama 2 area to her home in Bang Bon 5, Nong Khaem. According to reports, the arriving rider used a red Honda Wave motorcycle and was operating under someone else’s account, reportedly his father’s Bolt ID, a practice that Thai officials have previously said was a recurring problem with Bolt drivers.
During the trip, the rider stopped at a petrol station to buy and consume “nam krathom” (kratom drink). The increasingly uncomfortable student began recording the rider on her phone. Instead of stopping at her destination, the rider sped past it for several kilometers. When she repeatedly asked him to stop, he allegedly tried to snatch her phone. At a red light intersection on Phet Kasem Road 81, the girl jumped off the moving bike in fear, tumbling onto the road and sustaining injuries including a swollen head. Bystanders and a fellow rider with a dashcam assisted her and helped file a police report at Nong Khaem Police Station. The dashcam video and mobile phone video later went viral.
Police later identified the 22- or 25-year-old rider (reports vary slightly) as using his father’s account. He claimed the student had pinned the wrong location and denied harmful intent, but admitted to kratom and cannabis use while driving. He faces charges including unlawful detention.
The case has brought a sharp reaction from senior Thai officials. On April 29th, Patchara Anantasilpa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE), publicly criticized Bolt for failing to manage risks properly.
He stated the incident “should not have happened” and spoke about Bolt’s alleged non-compliance with agreed safety conditions, despite extensions granted until late March 2026 for proper registration. Patchara warned that authorities may block the platform entirely if standards are not met, potentially using the Computer Crime Act or upgrading existing regulations.
Dr. Chaichana Mitrpant, Executive Director of the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), noted that current laws mainly allow only business notifications and identity checks. ETDA has summoned Bolt for clarification and demanded urgent improvements, including:
– Strict identity verification (matching the registered driver for every ride, using biometrics if possible)
– Prevention of account sharing, again possibly by using biometrics and regular check ins on the app to ensure the proper driver is driving.
– Ensuring only properly licensed public vehicles (Ror Yor 17/18) and drivers are used
– Suspending riders who break regulations and guidelines, including consumption of drugs or alcohol on duty, and alerting other platforms
Non-compliance could lead to a business ban, with a 90-day remediation period before further action.
Sorapong Paitoonphong, Director-General of the Department of Land Transport, added that Bolt’s operating certificate expires at the end of May 2026. With over 2,000 violations linked to Bolt out of roughly 6,700 total complaints on ride-hailing cases, renewal is at risk if improvements are not made.
Bolt Thailand’s General Manager, Nathadon Suksiritarnan, said the company had suspended the rider’s account, expressed sympathy for the victim, and claimed it had already blocked over 40,000 non-compliant drivers. The firm, however, positioned itself as a marketplace using independent contractors rather than a direct employer but has pledged further cooperation with authorities.
This shows ongoing challenges in Thailand’s ride-hailing sector, where account sharing, unlicensed drivers, and inadequate vetting remain issues despite new Ride Sharing Platform regulations enforced since March 31st, 2026. Officials are pushing for stronger civil and criminal penalties against platforms to enhance passenger safety and prevent repeats.
The case has sparked widespread public concern, with social media users calling for better protections, especially for young female passengers using these services late at night.
https://thepattayanews.com/2026/04/29/t ... passenger/
_________________________________________________________________
Tighter scrutiny for ride-hailing firms
by Komsan Tortermvasana
Authorities have asked ride-hailing platforms to strictly implement driver identity verification or they risk service suspension following a string of safety concerns and the discovery of driver identity theft.
The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry plans to revise all related laws to ensure punishment for those failing to comply with the regulations.
A video was posted on Facebook of a schoolgirl jumping off a moving motorcycle driven by a driver from the Bolt platform at a red-light intersection at Phetkasem Soi 81, allegedly because she was alarmed by the driver's behaviour.
The driver was alleged to have used the ID of another ride-hailing driver to provide the service.
The DES Ministry, the Department of Land Transport (DLT) and the Royal Thai Police held a press conference on the case on Wednesday with Bolt and vowed to step up legal pressure on ride-hailing platforms to address "insufficiently rigorous" driver screening processes.
DES permanent secretary Patchara Anuntasilpa said officials found some people were circumventing security protocols by using the credentials and identities of other drivers to pick up passengers.
The authorities acknowledged that current laws were designed for businesses to inform authorities of their business details, rather than focusing on imposing punishment. The law has limitations in penalising digital business models.
Sorapong Paitoonphong, director-general of the DLT, said there are roughly 19,000 ride-hailing drivers nationwide holding public driving licences, with half driving motorcycles and half driving cars.
According to the DLT, from 2022 to the present there were roughly 6,700 complaints about services, of which about one-third are allegedly related to Bolt.
Bolt is in the process of renewing its business licence with the DLT as its licence expires in mid-May.
During this time, the company must present information and confirm details of its improved safety measures with the department.
If the department finds the improvements are unsatisfactory, it may discuss with relevant agencies postponing the licence renewal.
Nathadon Suksiritarnan, general manager of Bolt Thailand, said its management is looking into the details of every incident to improve safety standards.
The company is also promoting its initiative to assist drivers in obtaining the correct public transport licences and legal registration.
To bolster passenger confidence, Bolt is integrating AI technology and enhanced safety features, including real-time tracking and direct emergency links to the police.
The company has banned around 40,000 drivers in the past due to their failure to comply with the related regulations.
STRICTER MEASURES
Chaichana Mitrpant, executive director of the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), said the incident involving the schoolgirl jumping off the ride-hailing motorcycle has underscored the urgent need to intensify regulatory oversight to restore public confidence.
As the regulator of digital platforms, the ETDA has undertaken strict legal enforcement.
Mr Chaichana said the agency instructed platform providers to urgently ensure drivers are verified as the same individuals registered on the platform for every trip, preventing account impersonation, and enforcing the use of properly registered vehicles and licensed drivers.
Following the schoolgirl incident, the ETDA issued formal orders requiring Bolt to clarify the facts and implement immediate remedial actions.
These include suspending the accounts of drivers involved, notifying other platforms to prevent such drivers from migrating across systems, and expediting improvements to screening and identity verification systems to meet regulatory standards.
If authorities find any platform operators failing to comply with regulatory conditions, they may face orders to cease operations.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/ge ... ling-firms
__________________________________________________________
Thailand’s DES Ministry seeks law to penalise ride-hailing platforms
by THE NATION
April 29, 2026
Patchara Anuntasilpa, permanent secretary of the Digital Economy and Society Ministry, commenting on the case involving a driver, or rider, on the Bolt application using an assumed rider ID with malicious intent towards a passenger, said that under ETDA’s governing law, the Electronic Transactions Development Agency was responsible only for receiving business notifications and requiring riders to register and verify their identity under prescribed conditions.
The law did not yet allow civil or criminal penalties.
Therefore, under the policy of Chaichanok Chidchob, the digital economy and society minister, the ministry wanted the law amended so applications could be held liable under both civil and criminal law.
The ministry therefore needed to urgently examine the fastest possible process, whether by amending an existing DES Ministry law, the Computer-Related Crime Act, or by upgrading ETDA’s Royal Decree on the Operation of Digital Platform Service Businesses That Are Subject to Prior Notification, 2022, into an Act, so action could be taken against platforms, including shutting down applications to prevent them from providing services in Thailand.
This was because platforms still did not have effective screening systems and should screen out people without public driving licences rather than merely blocking riders after they had committed offences.
Platforms also lacked a proper risk-management system as agreed with the DES Ministry.
Chaichana Mitrpant, executive director of ETDA, said monitoring had found that platforms still did not have sufficiently stringent inspection measures as required by the notification, especially on driver identity verification.
ETDA had therefore ordered digital platforms, as service providers, to urgently tighten their checks, including verifying before every ride that the driver matches the registered account. The checks are intended to prevent driver-account impersonation and ensure that drivers and vehicles are properly registered for ride-hailing services under Department of Land Transport rules.
Following the incident, the agencies concerned had not been complacent.
ETDA had issued a letter summoning the service provider to clarify the facts and instructed it to expedite urgent measures, including suspending the accounts of drivers connected to the incident and alerting other platforms to check and prevent the driver from providing services through other systems.
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/policy/40065644
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KeithAmbrose
- Posts: 92
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Re: End of Bolt
Well, bolt brings some competition to the taxi mafia. Which is how markets should function. Also, bolt have managed to keep operating in countries where the rule of law is applied without much corruption. Yet in a country with patchy law enforcement, they get their license withdrawn.KeithAmbrose wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 4:48 am Are brown envelopes, or lack therof, behind this decision?
So I think you're asking the right question.
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Gaybutton
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Re: End of Bolt
If brown envelopes are not the problem, maybe they are the cure . . .
Anyway, I am not expecting BOLT to disappear. I will be very surprised if that is what happens.
Anyway, I am not expecting BOLT to disappear. I will be very surprised if that is what happens.
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KeithAmbrose
- Posts: 92
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Gaybutton
- Posts: 24325
- Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
- Location: Thailand
- Has thanked: 3 times
- Been thanked: 1671 times
Re: End of Bolt
Bolt Strengthens Compliance and Safety Measures, Introduces Driver Facial Recognition, Following Thai Government Concerns
By Adam Judd
May 7, 2026
Bolt Thailand has reaffirmed its commitment to operating fully in accordance with Thai laws and regulations, while working closely with government authorities to continuously raise safety and compliance standards on its platform. This comes after a viral incident prompted Thai government officials to warn that standards must be improved or licenses to operate could possibly be not renewed. Bolt has responded by focusing heavily on safety and compliance, such as introducing facial recognition for drivers to ensure they match their account registration and don’t account share, a top concern.
Thailand remains a key market for Bolt, where the company is focused on supporting the development of a safe, transparent, and properly regulated ride-hailing industry that plays an increasingly important role in the country’s economy and urban transportation system.
Safety remains at the heart of Bolt’s operations. The company continuously reviews and enhances its systems to prevent incidents and minimize risks for both drivers and passengers, while taking swift action when issues arise. In response to recent cases of driver impersonation, Bolt has introduced additional measures to strengthen its existing safety framework:
Enhanced Driver Identity Verification: Bolt has upgraded its system with facial recognition technology to analyze driver selfies, significantly reducing account sharing and impersonation. The frequency of verification checks has also been increased.
Zero-Tolerance Policy: The company has enforced a stricter zero-tolerance approach to account sharing and identity fraud. Drivers found violating these policies face immediate and permanent suspension from the platform with no exceptions. There have been multiple reports of drivers being permanently suspended in the past week for account sharing.
In addition, Bolt is taking proactive steps to help drivers meet regulatory requirements, particularly regarding public driving licenses and proper vehicle registration. The company works closely with Thailand’s Department of Land Transport (DLT) and ran the successful “Booster Week” initiative, which helped more than 40,000 drivers obtain their public driving licenses in 2025. This program has contributed to a notable rise in overall industry compliance.
Bolt will continue developing its platform to enhance safety and will suspend drivers who fail to meet either government or platform requirements. At the same time, the company offers various forms of support to encourage compliance, including:
– Financial incentives for drivers who successfully apply for and upload valid public driving licenses.
– Assistance with vehicle registration to ensure vehicles meet the required categories.
– Streamlined document processes to simplify application and verification procedures.
Bolt recognizes that improving compliance across the ride-hailing industry is a shared objective requiring close cooperation among platforms, regulators, and all stakeholders to achieve effective and sustainable results.
The company is also partnering with industry allies to develop comprehensive solutions that include access to financing, insurance, and vehicle registration support, making it easier for drivers to meet regulatory standards.
Bolt remains firmly committed to its operations in Thailand and to fostering a safe, standardized, regulated, and sustainably growing ride-hailing industry that continues to support the country’s economy and urban mobility.
https://tpnnational.com/2026/05/07/bolt ... -concerns/
By Adam Judd
May 7, 2026
Bolt Thailand has reaffirmed its commitment to operating fully in accordance with Thai laws and regulations, while working closely with government authorities to continuously raise safety and compliance standards on its platform. This comes after a viral incident prompted Thai government officials to warn that standards must be improved or licenses to operate could possibly be not renewed. Bolt has responded by focusing heavily on safety and compliance, such as introducing facial recognition for drivers to ensure they match their account registration and don’t account share, a top concern.
Thailand remains a key market for Bolt, where the company is focused on supporting the development of a safe, transparent, and properly regulated ride-hailing industry that plays an increasingly important role in the country’s economy and urban transportation system.
Safety remains at the heart of Bolt’s operations. The company continuously reviews and enhances its systems to prevent incidents and minimize risks for both drivers and passengers, while taking swift action when issues arise. In response to recent cases of driver impersonation, Bolt has introduced additional measures to strengthen its existing safety framework:
Enhanced Driver Identity Verification: Bolt has upgraded its system with facial recognition technology to analyze driver selfies, significantly reducing account sharing and impersonation. The frequency of verification checks has also been increased.
Zero-Tolerance Policy: The company has enforced a stricter zero-tolerance approach to account sharing and identity fraud. Drivers found violating these policies face immediate and permanent suspension from the platform with no exceptions. There have been multiple reports of drivers being permanently suspended in the past week for account sharing.
In addition, Bolt is taking proactive steps to help drivers meet regulatory requirements, particularly regarding public driving licenses and proper vehicle registration. The company works closely with Thailand’s Department of Land Transport (DLT) and ran the successful “Booster Week” initiative, which helped more than 40,000 drivers obtain their public driving licenses in 2025. This program has contributed to a notable rise in overall industry compliance.
Bolt will continue developing its platform to enhance safety and will suspend drivers who fail to meet either government or platform requirements. At the same time, the company offers various forms of support to encourage compliance, including:
– Financial incentives for drivers who successfully apply for and upload valid public driving licenses.
– Assistance with vehicle registration to ensure vehicles meet the required categories.
– Streamlined document processes to simplify application and verification procedures.
Bolt recognizes that improving compliance across the ride-hailing industry is a shared objective requiring close cooperation among platforms, regulators, and all stakeholders to achieve effective and sustainable results.
The company is also partnering with industry allies to develop comprehensive solutions that include access to financing, insurance, and vehicle registration support, making it easier for drivers to meet regulatory standards.
Bolt remains firmly committed to its operations in Thailand and to fostering a safe, standardized, regulated, and sustainably growing ride-hailing industry that continues to support the country’s economy and urban mobility.
https://tpnnational.com/2026/05/07/bolt ... -concerns/
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BKKDreamer
Re: End of Bolt
I am happy to see/learn that Bolt shall remain operational in Thailand - as it is my primary preferred provider (other than the bahtbus) that I use for transportation. I have never used the other providers; Grab, inDrive, or Line Man Ride. I mainly use Grab for food deliveries.
One of the annoying things that I do not like about the Bolt experience are the conartists who send you a car/taxi (often with the VIP taxi label) as a substitution of a real authorized Bolt car. You know this because when the vehicle arrives the license plate does not match with the license plate displayed in the Bolt app. So, perhaps that 'real' Bolt vendor account is being used to give business to the independent drivers around Pattaya?
Has anyone experienced this and can explain it better?
Thanks.
One of the annoying things that I do not like about the Bolt experience are the conartists who send you a car/taxi (often with the VIP taxi label) as a substitution of a real authorized Bolt car. You know this because when the vehicle arrives the license plate does not match with the license plate displayed in the Bolt app. So, perhaps that 'real' Bolt vendor account is being used to give business to the independent drivers around Pattaya?
Has anyone experienced this and can explain it better?
Thanks.
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Gaybutton
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Re: End of Bolt
Does that matter? When you arrange your ride, BOLT lets you know the fee. If what arrives is an upgrade of what you arranged, the fee remains the same. If what arrives is a downgrade of what you arranged, I would cancel the ride and contact BOLT with a complaint.BKKDreamer wrote: ↑Fri May 08, 2026 1:07 pm One of the annoying things that I do not like about the Bolt experience are the conartists who send you a car/taxi (often with the VIP taxi label) as a substitution of a real authorized Bolt car.
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BKKDreamer
Re: End of Bolt
It matters to me mostly when what arrives are those white VIP private taxi cars - as they tend to be less customer friendly than the normal day-to-day Bolt drivers. To date, I have had to only cancel the ride in the Bolt app at the request of substitute car drivers because he was not a member of the Bolt system and did not have access to a Bolt account - as he explained to me that he gets referrals from Bolt drivers who are his friends - consequently, on their side they cannot show that the Bolt ride followed its journey and concluded.