By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Vodacom South Africa and
SmartOps Fleet have launched an integrated mobility ecosystem aimed at
expanding participation in South Africa’s e-hailing market, with plans to
introduce up to 55,000 vehicles over the next nine to 12 months.
The programme aims to create
up to 110,000 driver opportunities, with 66% of the fleet targeted to be
electric, supporting the growth of the country’s e-hailing sector.
The initiative brings
together partners from the technology, financial services, automotive and
mobility sectors to create opportunities for qualifying individuals to
participate in the market through vehicle ownership, while simplifying the
operational complexities associated with fleet management.
Vodacom is providing the
technology and connectivity infrastructure, alongside fintech capabilities, to
connect vehicle owners, drivers and mobility services through a digitally
enabled platform.
The partnership includes
SmartOps Fleet, MFC, a division of Nedbank, Nedbank, Tiger Wheel & Tyre,
TiAuto Investments, Fidelity Services Group, Fidelity ADT, Fidelity
SecureDrive, Motus Renault South Africa, Dongfeng SA, Uber and Bolt.
According to Vodacom, the
initiative is designed to broaden access to opportunities in the e-hailing
economy while building a more connected, inclusive and innovative mobility
ecosystem for South Africa.
The planned expansion of the
fleet, including the targeted share of electric vehicles, is intended to
support the sector’s growth while creating new opportunities for drivers and
vehicle owners.
