Women spearhead a new taxi service in Cape Town, initiated by Bolt.
Bolt, the ride-hailing company, has expanded its branded fleet in Cape Town by introducing a fleet of Citroën vehicles as part of a major revamp of its ride-hailing categories and services in South Africa.
This move comes as demand for reliable vehicles in Cape Town continues to rise. Bolt partnered with Citroën to introduce newer, higher-quality branded vehicles to the market, focusing on comfort and reliability for passengers. The exact Citroën models were not specified, but the emphasis is on elevating the ride experience.
The partnership is a part of a broader effort to improve service quality, driver compensation, and user safety. This fleet introduction coincides with Bolt's nationwide revamp of ride categories designed to simplify ride selection and reward drivers with better vehicles and ratings. The categories now include Economy, Bolt, Comfort, Business, XL, and Women for Women, aiming to reduce rider confusion and enhance driver earnings.
Alongside this fleet expansion, Bolt introduced "Family Profile," a feature allowing households to manage rides collectively while ensuring safety through in-app trip verification and live monitoring. This innovation reflects Bolt's broader strategy to offer a safe, smart, and affordable ride-hailing platform tailored to South African users.
Every Bolt-branded Citroën has gone through a full lifecycle with Auto24, a company that sources, reconditions, and services the vehicles for the Bolt-branded Citroën fleet. Pro Driver Placements, led by Faivelowitz, manages and deploys the fleet. Bolt says the new fleet lowers barriers for drivers, offering road-ready cars and fleet support.
The launch of a branded fleet with newer vehicles underlines Bolt’s commitment to quality and safety, potentially increasing competition in the South African e-hailing market by setting higher standards for vehicle quality and driver incentives. It also strengthens Bolt’s presence in Cape Town, positioning it as a more attractive option for riders seeking reliability and comfort, which may pressure other players to upgrade their services.
In summary, Bolt's expansion with a branded Citroën fleet in Cape Town reflects a strategic effort to improve service quality, driver compensation, and user safety, contributing to evolving standards within South Africa’s ride-hailing ecosystem. Their efforts are aligned with broader platform upgrades and innovative features aimed at consolidating and growing Bolt’s market share.
- In their ongoing focus on enhancing passenger comfort and reliability, Bolt has collaborated with finance companies to offer flexible vehicle financing options for drivers, making it easier for them to acquire branded Citroën vehicles in the health-and-wellness and lifestyle segments.
- With the introduction of their branded Citroën fleet, Bolt aims to expand beyond ride-hailing services, diving into the technology sector by developing smart in-ride entertainment systems, as part of their business strategy to offer a holistic approach to urban mobility.
- As part of their commitment to women's health and wellness, Bolt is partnering with several health and wellness organizations to offer health screenings and preventive care for their drivers and passengers, promoting a healthier lifestyle and fostering a culture of care within their business ecosystem.
