New York City rideshare drivers have another platform competing for their trips. Throo, a new app from Singapore-based mobility company TADA, has entered the city with a model that replaces the traditional percentage-based commission with a $1 fee charged to the driver for each completed ride.

The company soft-launched in New York on June 10 and has been recruiting drivers as it tries to build enough coverage to compete in a market dominated by Uber and Lyft. Throo CEO Kay Woo said more than 53,000 drivers had signed up for the platform by August, although early trip data shows the service is still in the beginning stages of building ridership.

Throo Uses a Different Fee Model

Throo’s main pitch to drivers centers on how it makes money from each trip. Rather than taking a percentage of the fare, Woo said the company charges drivers $1 per ride.

That structure could make the amount deducted by the platform easier to predict, particularly on higher-fare trips. The actual amount a driver earns will still depend on the fares available through Throo, trip volume and other operating expenses, so the lower platform fee alone does not establish that drivers will earn more overall.

Woo has described drivers as customers of the platform rather than simply the supply side of the business. He has also been recruiting directly at locations including the LaGuardia Airport driver wait lot as the company works to expand its New York network.

More Than 53,000 Drivers Have Signed Up, but Trip Volume Remains Small

Throo arrived with experience operating outside the United States. Parent company TADA launched in 2018 and operates in markets including Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Thailand, where Woo said the business is profitable.

New York presents a much larger competitive challenge. According to figures provided by the Taxi and Limousine Commission, 2,047 drivers completed 2,547 Throo trips during June following the app’s soft launch.

Uber and Lyft combined for more than 20 million trips in New York City during the same month. That gap is important for drivers considering a second or third app because a favorable fee structure only produces earnings when enough passenger requests are available.

The number of people who have registered with Throo also should not be confused with the number actively completing rides. While the company reported more than 53,000 driver sign-ups, the June figures provide an early indication of how many were actually receiving and completing trips shortly after launch.

The Company Is Also Promising More Direct Driver Support

Throo is trying to distinguish itself in another area that has been a source of frustration for some New York drivers: disputes and passenger complaints. The company says its model includes more open communication with drivers when conflicts arise.

That issue has received increased attention in the city. A Taxi and Limousine Commission survey released in June collected nearly 4,000 responses from licensees and found frustration with private companies among the concerns raised by respondents.

Driver account disputes are also the subject of an ongoing legal fight. Uber and Lyft have challenged a New York City law that would establish due-process protections for drivers facing certain platform actions.

For Throo, offering more direct communication could help attract drivers who want another option when a complaint or account issue occurs. How that process works as the platform grows will be easier to judge once more drivers have used it over a longer period.

Breaking Into New York Will Depend on Rider Demand

Other companies have attempted to challenge Uber and Lyft in New York with mixed results. Via, Gett and Revel are among the services that have changed or ended their rideshare operations in the city after competing for drivers and passengers.

Former TLC Commissioner Matthew Daus told NY1 that Throo could have a better opportunity because TADA is an established international company with the resources to support its expansion. He also suggested that a successful flat-fee model could put pressure on larger platforms to reconsider how they charge drivers.

For now, the more immediate question is whether Throo can attract enough passengers to generate consistent requests. Its June numbers were a fraction of the volume handled by Uber and Lyft, which means the platform remains a small part of New York City’s rideshare market despite its growing driver registration count.

Drivers interested in testing the service can add it alongside their existing apps rather than treating the launch as evidence that it can already replace the trip volume available elsewhere. The $1 fee gives Throo a clear point of difference, but its longer-term value to drivers will depend heavily on whether rider demand grows with its driver network.

The ProDriverPoint editorial team creates practical content covering industry news, operations, technology, safety, and workforce developments for professional drivers and transportation businesses. Each article is written to help readers understand the changes affecting passenger transportation and the services they provide.

Last Updated: September 4, 2026

Source: Spectrum News NY 1