Africab books a ride for Ivory Coast middle class
The new taxi app seeks to provide Ivory Coast’s emerging middle class with a locally-owned high-tech and reliable travel option
Abidjan — In bustling Abidjan, a homegrown company has tapped into the global taxi app revolution that has spawned Uber and other online transport networks. While Uber has already jumped into several African markets from South Africa to Egypt, Africab seeks to provide Ivory Coast’s emerging middle class with a locally-owned high-tech and reliable travel option. Africab’s clients can use the company app to book its taxis — which cannot be hailed in the road, and it advertises its services only online. Its fixed fares tend to be higher than for regular taxis, but clients benefit from extra perks. A daytime trip that would cost around 2,000 CFA francs ($3.2) in an old cab can cost 3,300 CFA francs in an Africab. But the start-up’s sleek vehicles — which are owned by the company, not by the driver — are all air-conditioned. They are fitted with tablet devices and offer free wi-fi internet access. "Brr, it’s cold inside!" jests Ivorian comedian Michel Gohou in an advertising video for Af...
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