Bolt has launched a low-cost-hailing service Bolt Go in South Africa. This new service cuts 20% off Bolt’s normal offering.
The company said that Bolt Go reduces the limitations to penetrate the South African ride-hailing industry by allowing owners and drivers of smaller hatchback cars to access the Bolt platform and earn an income. This particular move is geared towards taking on its competitor, Uber.
Gareth Taylor, country manager for Bolt in South Africa said, “Smaller hatchback cars are less expensive to purchase, have lower maintenance costs, and are more fuel-efficient to operate than Bolt’s regular larger sedan cars. These lower operational costs also enable Bolt Go fares to be significantly more affordable.”
The Coronavirus pandemic has significantly affected businesses and a lot of people’s means of sustenance. The lockdown means less travel, which means less income for those whose source of livelihood depends on ride-hailing.
Also, there are arguments that the ride-hailing industry had begun to experience dwindling fortunes even before the pandemic.
According to iAfrikan, in South Africa for example, Bolt’s standard service was already, on average, cheaper than the Uber X offering – the cheapest service by Uber in South Africa. But saying this about Uber is deceptive because already, from anecdotes, some Uber X drivers have been protesting and complaining about how little they make and how they have to constantly be making trips just to barely meet their running costs.
Bolt has said that its new cheaper service will be launched in secondary provincial cities and towns across South Africa, and then in the large urban areas of Gauteng, Cape Town, and Durban.
Time and kilometer-based rates vary between locations but will always be approximately 20% more affordable than Bolt’s standard sedan category.
Taylor said, “Because Bolt Go has been designed for hatchback drivers, the service is not ideal for trips with lots of luggage – for example to the airport ahead of a big holiday – but it’s perfect for people wanting to quickly, safely and affordably get to work, the shops or to a family – all dependent on the COVID-19 regulations at any time.”
