- Bolt has expanded into Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to contribute to the availability of private transport options in the city.
- Following the launch, the ride-hailing company is looking to onboard over 200 drivers. It has also opened requests for airport trips to and from the international airport.
- The company is also waiving drivers’ commissions for six months, a strategy it has deployed in its recent launches.
Launching in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is part of Bolt's latest African expansion spree, following its recent expansion into Egypt.
The company boasts of being available in over 45 countries, and just in Q1 2024, Bolt launched its services in Botswana, Egypt, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Bolt launched in Namibia in February 2024, onboarding more than 200 drivers.
The e-hailing company is waiving the 6-month commission fee for drivers in cities where it has recently launched. Bolt charges a standard commission of up to 15% to drivers but will now pay drivers in those cities in full for the specified period.
Bolt's commission-free strategy aims to boost demand through competitive pricing and increase drivers' earning potential.
It introduced a new feature, 'Driver Destinations,' which provides more earning opportunities for driver-partners in South Africa. The new feature allows driver-partners to choose from multiple orders that are on their way, increasing their earnings.
Expanding into more African markets follows the company's commitment to invest $542.8 million in Africa to strengthen its presence and create jobs for over 300,000 new drivers.
Following its launch in the DRC, Bolt stated it intends to impact the country's transport sector.
The ride-hailing company stated, “As Bolt sets its wheels in motion in Kinshasa, it looks forward to revolutionising the transportation landscape in the DRC, offering enhanced mobility solutions while fostering prosperity for drivers and customers alike.”
Bolt's expansion in Africa comes amidst an anticipated revenue growth of $1.99 billion in 2024 for the ride-hailing market in Africa, reaching $2.98 billion by 2028. Also, the number of ride-hailing users is projected to reach 202.70 million by 2028, with a penetration increase from 13.5% in 2024 to 14.3% by 2028.
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Meanwhile, the ride-hailing company recently announced in a report that the number of new companies that opened Bolt Business accounts in 2023 increased by 70% year-on-year. Bolt Business provides transportation services to businesses and manages their rides for the entire company.
