Indonesian super app Gojek might have accidentally released a new feature going by the name of GoTransit. It is, more or less, an in-app map that shows Indonesia’s often confusing public transportation services and suggests the routes to take. Among the available means of transport are train, MRT, bus, and angkot (public minivan).
Aside from calculating routes, the app also makes a cost estimation. It works similar as Google Maps, with the additional benefit that the user can directly order available Gojek services—car, ojek (taxi bike), or taxi—without having to open another app.
On Monday, DealStreetAsia reported that this and several other products have been registered with the General Directorate of Intellectual Property. KrASIA was able to verify the existence of the new feature on Monday morning. However, when checking again in the evening, the GoTransit icon mysteriously disappeared. The company hasn’t responded to a request for comment.
Not so new feature?
Back in 2015, Gojek already had an integrated transportation feature called Go-Busway, which linked to Jakarta’s rapid bus transit system called TransJakarta. Users could order their ojek to wait at TransJakarta’s shelters. The feature also included a live bus schedule for riders to calculate their trip times.
GoTransit looks like a more complete, sophisticated version of Go-Busway. It was listed in the transport and logistics section of the app.
The launch comes shortly after co-founder and co-CEO Kevin Aluwi announced a plan to strengthen Gojek’s core businesses: transportation, food delivery, and payment. For now, it seems like the new service appeared and quickly disappeared again.