Singapore and Malaysia will sharply expand licensed cross-border taxi services from 16 November 2026, raising the quota for each country from 300 to 500 taxis and licensing two new ride-hailing operators. The changes were announced in a joint statement by the two countries' transport ministries on 6 November.

The combined quota will rise from 600 to 1,000 licensed taxis, giving commuters far more legal options for point-to-point trips across the Causeway, one of the world's busiest land border crossings. Two new operators, Singapore-based CDG Zig and Malaysia's Kumpool, will join GrabCar as licensed operators under the enhanced Cross-Border Taxi Scheme.

CDG Zig is the ride-hailing platform of ComfortDelGro, Singapore's largest taxi operator, while Kumpool is a Malaysian mobility company. Their entry ends GrabCar's position as the sole licensed app operator on the route and introduces competition into a market long served by a small pool of licensed taxis alongside illegal operators offering door-to-door rides.

The expansion builds on enhancements introduced on 4 May 2026, when the two countries added designated pick-up points for ride-hailing bookings, allowed more flexible drop-off points, raised the taxi quota and added requirements to support enforcement against illegal domestic point-to-point trips. Officials say commuters who have used cross-border taxis since then welcomed the point-to-point drop-offs, which are available anywhere in Singapore and within the operating boundary in Malaysia covering Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri, Forest City, Kulai and Senai.

Pick-ups in the other country still take place only at designated spots, although three extra pick-up points were added in each country during the May improvements. Larger and premium vehicles are also available, which officials say has helped families and business travellers.

Ng Lang, chief executive of Singapore's Land Transport Authority, said: "The increase in quota is an important step towards strengthening cross-border connectivity between Singapore and Malaysia, and reflects the strong and longstanding cooperation between our two countries. By expanding the availability of licensed cross-border services, we are giving travellers more options and greater flexibility for their journeys."

Ahmad Radhi Ma'arof, director-general of Malaysia's Land Public Transport Agency, described the expansion as a significant milestone in enhancing cross-border passenger movement and complementing first-mile and last-mile connectivity between Johor Bahru and Singapore. He said he hoped the development would signify further enhancement of connectivity between the two nations.

The two transport ministries said the improvements would further strengthen business links and people-to-people ties between the countries. Officials from the ministries, the Land Transport Authority and Malaysia's Land Public Transport Agency have continued to work closely on further improvements to cross-border taxi services, and both sides said they would keep working together to improve cross-border travel.

For the hundreds of thousands of people who cross between Singapore and Johor Bahru for work, school and family visits, the change should mean shorter waits and more reliable rides. The ministries have not said how quickly the full quota of 1,000 taxis will be filled, noting that not all of the newly licensed vehicles will be deployed on the launch date.

The full text is in the joint statement by the transport ministries of Singapore and Malaysia.