Bolt expands into North Africa with Launch in Egypt offering incentives for riders and drivers

Ride-hailing company, Bolt, has extended its operations into Cairo, Egypt, a move that places it in direct competition with other transport service providers such as Uber and inDrive. The expansion signifies Bolt’s pursuit of a broader market footprint in North Africa, in sync with its strategic growth plan in Africa.

The launch in Cairo comes with an attractive promotion to entice riders — a half-off discount for a six-month duration is being offered, for which Bolt will foot the bill entirely. In a bid to attract and incentivize drivers, Bolt is also offering a reprieve from the standard 15% commission fee it typically charges.

The company has recently established operations in Zimbabwe and Botswana. These moves tie in with Bolt’s substantial financial commitment towards broadening its presence across Africa. Bolt’s investment plan entails dedicating €500 million (or approximately $542.8 million) to its growth efforts on the continent, signaling a strategic move to capture a larger market share and create job opportunities for over 300,000 potential drivers.