Internet ride-sharing app Uber says it could theoretically reduce Johannesburg traffic by almost one million cars if it introduces its car pooling option in South Africa.<\/p>\n
Uber launched in South Africa in 2013, and the service is available in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth.<\/p>\n
Over half a million riders in South Africa have used Uber since its launch.<\/p>\n
But while Uber offers its uberX, uberBLACK and uberSUV offerings in the country, it is yet to introduce its uberPOOL option locally.<\/p>\n
uberPOOL matches riders heading in the same direction and costs less than the uberX option, according to Uber\u2019s website.<\/p>\n
“Imagine we can put 2 or 3 or 4 people in the same car,\u201d Alon Lits, Uber’s head of Sub-Saharan Africa, told a media briefing in Johannesburg on Thursday.<\/p>\n
“We have a huge ability. I think that the number is that over one million cars are going into Johannesburg everyday. I think it’s 1.8 million.<\/p>\n
“Imagine if we could reduce that by 800 000. And we’ve run the numbers and we think we can do that through a product like uberPOOL,\u201d said Lits.<\/p>\n
The total number of motor cars and station wagons in the whole of Gauteng was 2.9 million in February 2016 according to the National Traffic Information System (eNaTIS).<\/p>\n
Imminent launch?<\/strong><\/p>\n Jambu Palaniappan, who is Uber\u2019s regional general manager for Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, was also at the briefing on Thursday, but he was tight-lipped on whether uberPOOL could be launched soon in South Africa.<\/p>\n “I won’t break any news on that today but I certainly will let you guys know when that’s in,\u201d said Palaniappan.<\/p>\n “Hopefully we’ll be able to bring that product here soon. But I think there is so much potential for evolving and continuing to evolve how we think about personal transport,\u201d added Palaniappan.<\/p>\n The uberPOOL service is currently available in cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, London, Shanghai and Mexico City.<\/p>\n News24<\/a><\/p>\n SA Uber drivers protest against price cuts<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Uber slashes prices for South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n New meter law to hit Uber taxis in South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Uber signs R200 million car rental deal in SA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on Uber<\/h3>\n