They were never legal in Thailand but operated anyway. Grab were more legal (only in Thailand would a concept of "more legal" exist of course) and had some deal with the songthews to keep them happy, though I think that's now fallen apart. Grab bought out Uber in Thailand (and I think all SE asia) earlier this year.
In CM there is a laundry on almost every street corner. Been using the same one near Adams since 2005