Six months after launching its fleet of sexy black sedans, Uber just debuted UberX, a low-cost alternative offering mostly compact cars.
 
Uber is a crowd-sourced service where a smartphone app puts you in touch with freelance chauffeurs about town, who have been vetted by Uber before getting added to their system.
 
UberX now makes the service even cheaper than regular taxis, at least during the promotional launch period. Here is a recap of the prices. 
 
 
Price: uberX Rate / UberBLACK Rate*
Base fare: ฿25 / ฿45
Per Minute: ฿1.00 / ฿2.50
Per KM: ฿4.50 / ฿9.20
Minimum Fare: ฿45 / ฿75
*Flat rate from Bangkok to Airport (no pickup service): 500 baht + tolls
 
During UberX's test period, the service is only available in the areas highlighted on the map above. 
 
So far, Bangkok's taxi drivers (who recently protested for and were granted an increase in their fares) seem to have largely ignored Uber muscling in on their turf. But there has been violent push back against the service in Paris and Kuala Lumpur. It will be interesting to see if UberX goes unnoticed here or finally draws attention from our cabbies.
 
Uber has won high praise from its users for providing a safe and reliable alternative to taxis, which are notorious in Bangkok for refusing to go to certain destinations and over-charging.