Bolt has expanded its electric vehicle (EV) ride category to Johannesburg, building on its earlier launch in Cape Town as the mobility platform targets a fleet of 500 electric vehicles in South Africa by December 2026.
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The rollout brings together Bolt, the South African Meter Taxi and E-Hailing Association (SAMTEA), an affiliate of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), electric vehicle manufacturer BYD and other industry stakeholders. The collaboration highlights efforts to strengthen cooperation between the e-hailing and taxi sectors while supporting the adoption of electric mobility.
The Johannesburg launch forms part of Bolt’s broader ambition to scale electric mobility in South Africa and support a transition towards cleaner, more efficient urban transport.
EV rollout aims to lower operating costs
Graham Walker, General Manager of Bolt South Africa, said: “Johannesburg’s mobility future will be built through collaboration. This launch, alongside SAMTEA, BYD and our other industry partners, demonstrates what is possible when the e-hailing and taxi sectors come together around a shared goal: creating transport solutions that are cleaner, more efficient and more inclusive.
“Electric mobility presents an important opportunity for South Africa. It can help reduce operating and maintenance costs for driver-partners and fleet operators, while contributing to cleaner urban transport. Our focus is on making that opportunity practical and scalable through strong partnerships.”
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Bolt expands its African EV footprint
The Johannesburg expansion also strengthens Bolt’s growing global and African EV footprint. Bolt operates electric ride categories in more than 70 cities worldwide and has introduced electric mobility initiatives in Kenya and Nigeria, alongside its South African rollout.
South Africa remains one of Bolt’s most important markets globally. The expansion follows the company’s 10-year milestone in the country and its announcement of a R3bn economic contribution, reflecting Bolt’s continued investment in mobility solutions that support economic participation and more sustainable cities.
Taxi sector calls for greater collaboration
Sibongiseni Shange, chairperson of SAMTEA, said the sector must evolve to meet the needs of a changing transport landscape while preserving the foundations on which it was built.
“We must move with the times and evolve. That does not mean forgetting our roots; it means building something stronger for the next generation,” said Shange. “There was a time when meter taxis and e-hailing were viewed as competitors, particularly as the market was disrupted and different parts of the sector responded in different ways. But through continued engagement, we have begun to find one another and recognise that many of the challenges facing the industry affect all of us, including our drivers.
“For the sector to be more sustainable and offer stronger protections, operators need to be part of a formalised industry. Collaboration is essential if we are to create a transport ecosystem that protects drivers and passengers, supports business, and creates opportunity.”
By combining electric vehicle technology with industry collaboration, Bolt and its partners aim to support wider EV adoption. The initiative is intended to benefit driver-partners, fleet operators and passengers while advancing a transport sector in which different mobility services can coexist and contribute to South Africa’s economic and environmental priorities.
