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Easy Taxi, the world's largest taxi-booking app, has introduced the Super Easy Taxi programme in Malaysia. Taxis under the scheme are set to offer an upgraded level of service thanks to a rating- and reward-based plan that's the first of its kind in the country.

For starters, passengers will be warmly greeted by drivers who have been workshop-trained to improve their customer service initiatives and etiquette. Their unique-liveried cars will be clean and comfortable, and customers will be offered mineral water or the music of their choice.

Central to this is a rating-based incentive programme that rewards drivers between RM200 and RM1,000 a month depending on their performance and ratings given by customers through the app. This represents, says Easy Taxi regional MD Joon Chan, around a third up on their income per month.

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Easy Taxi also provides monthly bonuses which vary on a month-to-month basis, to continuously motivate drivers to increase their level of service. These rewards are over and above their daily income from fares.

Also introduced is the ET Pay cash-free system - register your credit card with the app and you may simply pay your fare through your smartphone, without having to fish out your card and swipe it through a terminal.

"We believe there are good (taxi) drivers out there," said Chan. "We would like to continue to champion Malaysian taxis by investing in them. As we all know, the public transportation industry is experiencing quite a shake-up right now, but our priority remains with the Malaysian taxi drivers who are earning their humble livelihood.

"Our initiative in upgrading Malaysian taxis marks the first time a private company is investing to improve the condition of these taxis. This will pave way for an overall improved end-to-end taxi experience for passengers."

The programme has been running for two weeks now, and about 100 taxis have already signed up. That accounts for just two percent of the entire Easy Taxi fleet, but the company is looking to recruit, in phases, somewhere in the thousands.

Born in Brazil in June 2011, Easy Taxi today operates in over 33 countries and 170 cities around the globe. The app can be downloaded for free on iOS, Android and Windows Phone platforms. Easy Taxi started in Malaysia in 2013 and is now present in Johor Bahru, Penang, Kuching and the Klang Valley.