From September 1, passengers will need to select from the other Uber products available to them, depending on their location and the vehicle options in their area.
Image: Uber
South African Uber users have just days left to use UberX, as the ride-hailing platform prepares to discontinue the service nationwide.
Uber has confirmed that UberX will no longer be available across South Africa from September 1.
The move means the familiar standard ride category, which has been available on South African roads for more than a decade, will be removed from the platform.
Uber first announced the change earlier this year, initially notifying users in Johannesburg that UberX would be phased out from September.
At the time, it was unclear whether the change would extend to other parts of South Africa. Uber has now confirmed that the service will be discontinued nationwide.
The company said it was restructuring its products after finding that many trips were being completed by the same vehicles across Uber Go, UberX and Comfort.
Uber said simplifying its product offering would create clearer categories for passengers and drivers.
It also said the existing structure had made it more difficult for passengers to understand the differences between products, while drivers with higher-specification vehicles were not always able to benefit from those differences.
For years, UberX has been one of the platform’s most widely used ride options.
The service offered passengers a private ride for up to four people at an everyday price.
From 1 September, passengers will therefore need to select from the other Uber products available to them, depending on their location and the vehicle options in their area.
Uber said drivers will still be able to operate on any product for which their vehicle qualifies.
These include Uber, Uber Go, Uber Comfort, Uber Black, UberXL and Van, as well as Courier (Car & Bakkie).
The discontinuation of UberX therefore does not mean that drivers will no longer be able to use the Uber platform.
For passengers, however, the change marks the end of one of the app’s most familiar ride categories in South Africa.
IOL Business
