Rideshare company DiDi has implemented a fuel surcharge of 5 cents per kilometre for Australian customers, effective from Wednesday. The company stated that the additional fee will be passed on in full to drivers to offset the rising cost of petrol, which has increased by nearly 50 cents per litre since the US conflict with Iran began.
DiDi Australia's head of external affairs, Dan Jordan, said the surcharge is necessary due to the ongoing pressure of fuel price increases on drivers. This is not the first time DiDi has introduced such a measure; a similar surcharge of 3 cents per kilometre was applied in 2022 when the fuel excise pause was lifted. Notably, the surcharge also applies to electric vehicle trips, even though those drivers do not incur petrol costs.
Other transport and delivery companies, including Uber, DoorDash, and Australia Post, are considering similar charges. Uber has not yet announced a surcharge, but a spokesperson acknowledged the cost pressures on workers and said the company is monitoring the situation. DoorDash indicated it is actively working on support options for its drivers. Australia Post will release its fixed petrol surcharge for May shortly, with the previous month's rate at 4.8%, the lowest since May 2022.
Small businesses, such as removalists and cleaners, have also begun raising prices due to higher fuel costs. Meanwhile, major airlines like Qantas and Cathay Pacific have increased surcharges as jet fuel prices rise. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has warned businesses against making false or misleading statements about price hikes and is closely monitoring the aviation industry.
The Reserve Bank of Australia raised interest rates on Tuesday to curb spending and prevent businesses from embedding temporary petrol price increases into their costs. Some companies, such as Coles, have not altered their delivery prices or fuel charges, stating they are operating as usual.
