Uber kills off UberX service in South Africa
Uber is set to discontinue its long-standing UberX service in South Africa from 1 September 2026, as the ride-hailing company restructures its product…
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Uber is set to discontinue its long-standing UberX service in South Africa from 1 September 2026, as the ride-hailing company restructures its product offering in the country.
The service, which was first introduced in Cape Town in June 2014 before expanding to Johannesburg, has for more than a decade served as Uber’s core budget-friendly ride option.
Uber has notified customers that UberX will be retired as part of a move to simplify its South African offering into four categories: Uber Go, Uber Comfort, Uber Black and Uber Reserve.
Uber Go will serve as the entry-level option, while Comfort and Black will cater to passengers looking for higher levels of vehicle quality and service. Reserve will remain available for customers wanting to arrange rides in advance.
The change comes amid growing concerns across the local e-hailing industry about vehicle standards, driver reliability and intense competition in the lower-cost segment.
Budget e-hailing services have faced mounting pressure to keep fares competitive, with the resulting price competition contributing to concerns about the quality and reliability of some services.
Uber’s restructuring is expected to give passengers a clearer choice between different levels of service while moving away from a single dominant budget product.
The changes also come as South Africa moves to tighten regulation of the e-hailing industry.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the National Land Transport Amendment Act (NLTAA) into law, introducing new requirements aimed at formalising the sector and improving passenger and driver safety.
Among the provisions are requirements relating to driver vetting, operating licences, company registration and emergency panic buttons in vehicles.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has said the legislation will provide greater recognition for e-hailing drivers within the country’s public transport system.
“It benefits South African drivers by recognising them as formal public transport operators or drivers, legalising their status,” Creecy said.
“Legitimising the profession means the subsector can benefit from basic conditions of employment and comply with labour and employment laws.”
The regulatory changes follow years of tension and uncertainty surrounding the position of e-hailing services within South Africa’s broader public transport system.
For Uber passengers, the most immediate change will be the disappearance of UberX from the app from 1 September, with Uber Go becoming the company’s entry-level alternative.
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