Bolt, the Estonian ride-hailing unicorn, has launched in Cairo to compete with Uber and InDriver. The company is offering incentives for both riders and drivers.

Bolt, has extended its operations into Cairo, Egypt, placing it in direct competition with other transport service providers such as Uber and inDrive. The expansion signifies Bolt’s pursuit of a broader market footprint in North Africa, in sync with its strategic growth plan in Africa.

The Estonian ride-hailing company, Bolt, plans to compete in the market through its pricing strategy. It will not charge its standard 15% commission to drivers (unlike Uber and Careem, who charge 22-33%), and will offer riders a 50% discount on their trips for the next six months. Bolt will cover the cost of these discounts, and drivers will earn the full amount of money earned during a trip.

“Egypt is an important market for our entry beyond merely boosting driver revenues; we aim to ignite demand through competitive pricing,” said Haitham Mansour, Bolt Egypt Country Manager. Mansour stated that by keeping commissions significantly lower than competitors, they ensure that drivers earn more while providing attractive service fees to customers.

Bolt has launched its services in Egypt, marking its debut in the 15th African market. The ride-hailing company started its African operations in South Africa in 2016. Since then, Bolt has expanded its presence, launching in several other African countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon, Zambia, Tanzania, and Uganda.