As a part of its expansion to African markets with low car ownership and limited public transport, American ride-hailing company, Uber, has officially launched its operations in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s capital city.
Cote d’Ivoire is the third West African country Uber is launching its service in after Nigeria and Ghana, and the eighth country in Africa. The service joins already existing ride-hailing services in the city like TaxiJet, Yango, and Moja Ride.
“The launch of Uber in Abidjan is a first in French-speaking Africa and contributes to the international influence of the city while creating new economic opportunities,” Marjorie Saint-Lot, Country Manager for Uber in Ivory Coast reportedly said at the launch last Thursday.
With a population of about 5 million people, a limited public transport system and car ownership, Uber says Abidjan is a perfect fit for its services.
“We are eager to offer Abidjan and tourists a new way to get around the city and complement the existing transport infrastructure,” said ALon Lits, Uber General Manager for sub-Saharan Africa.
“The Uber team is ready to begin processing driver registrations on the app and we are organising many information sessions so that potential drivers can receive personal assistance.”
In addition, Uber’s global partnership with AXA Mansard has been extended to Côte d’Ivoire in order to offer insurance coverage to drivers and passengers. It has also partnered with Standard Chartered Bank Côte d'Ivoire to help drivers open bank accounts.
Uber’s launch in Abidjan is the first of many in Francophone Africa. According to reports, the company is targeting Dakar, Senegal’s capital city next.
