Uber has reached a significant milestone by clocking one billion rides across all of its African markets per reports.
Uber announced today that it has completed 1 billion rides across all of its African markets. According to the company’s press release, this feat equates to more than 10 billion kilometres travelled.
This achievement for Uber comes nearly a decade after the mobility tech company established itself on the continent in Johannesburg, South Africa. It has since expanded into seven additional African countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ivory Coast.
According to Lorraine Onduru, the company’s spokesperson and head of comms for East and West Africa, in a statement. “Since entering the market in 2013, we have created over 6 million economic opportunities in over 50 cities across SSA that we are present in.”
Uber has expanded to over 30 cities in its major markets in the last year, including 21 in South Africa — its most dominant market — four in Kenya and Nigeria, and two in Ghana.
Uber Eats, its food-delivery arm, has also been expanded across a few South African cities and Nairobi, Kenya, as part of the company’s growth strategy. Uber Eats debuted in South Africa in 2016 with only 1,000 restaurants. It now serves over 8,000 merchants in 36 cities across South Africa and Kenya.
“Since entering the market in 2013, we have created over six million economic opportunities in over fifty SSA cities that we are present in,” Uber’s Head of Communications for East and West Africa, Lorraine Onduru, said in a statement. We take delight in constructing locally while utilizing global skills. Because each country’s demands are distinct, we take the time to learn about them so that we can respond and adapt accordingly.”
Here are other metrics the company reported in its growth report:
- The most popular time users request Uber rides is 2 PM.
- The most popular day users request Uber rides is on Friday.
- The most popular drop-off destination is the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
- The most popular ride option is UberX (from a list that includes Uber Go, Uber Moto, Uber Boda and Uber Poa).
- The average trip time recorded on Uber is 24 minutes, and the longest recorded trip was over 492 km.
Over the years, Uber has disrupted local cab industries while creating over 50,000 driver jobs. But within this time, Uber has faced stiff competition from Bolt in its major markets, which has led to price wars that still affect drivers’ earnings today.
