Ride-hailing and mobility company, inDrive has announced the launch of its ride-hailing in Lusaka, Zambia. Speaking at the launch, Ashif Black, inDrive’s Business Development Representative for Africa stated that the company’s decision to launch in Lusaka follows the conviction that the Zambian market is ready for its model.
“The Zambian market is ready for innovation in ride-hailing. Our unique fare negotiation model empowers drivers and passengers by giving them control over their pricing, rather than leaving it in the hands of an algorithm”, he explained.
The company also said that it will be offering a zero commission fee arrangement for drivers within the first six months of its operation in the country. The zero-commission period allows drivers to keep 100% of their earnings, providing direct and immediate financial benefits.
“We believe this flexibility, along with our zero-commission benefit, will address many of the current challenges in the industry and provide a fairer, more rewarding experience for drivers”, Ashif added.
inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform, was launched in 2013. In addition to ride-hailing, the app company provides an expanding list of urban services, including intercity transportation, freight delivery, task assistance and courier delivery. In 2023, the company launched New Ventures, a venture and M&A arm.
Considered one of the fastest-growing ride-hailing companies in the world, inDrive which now operates in 781 cities across 47 countries has been downloaded over 240 million times. It was the second most downloaded mobility app in 2022 and 2023.
This growth and diversification reflects inDrive’s evolution from being the world’s second-most downloaded mobility app to a global multi-service platform operating across these countries.
From Zimbabwe to. Zambia: inDrive’s spread through Africa
Recall that the ride-hailing company announced 3 weeks ago the launch of its services across four major cities in Zimbabwe: Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, and Mutare. In the same vein, the company launched its courier services in the country’s capital city, Harare to enhance users’ convenience.
Read more: Ride-Hailing company, inDrive expands services across four major cities in Zimbabwe
According to a statement by the company, the expansion marks a significant milestone in inDrive’s mission to challenge injustice by offering fair, affordable, and people-driven services to communities across Zimbabwe. “With the launch of the new courier service, individuals and businesses can now send packages safely and efficiently”, it said.
The company also announced that it has already established intercity services to provide seamless connectivity across key cities to support residents’ and businesses’ mobility needs.
inDrive’s unique model which allows users to negotiate costs directly, has gained widespread favorability in Zimbabwe. The app’s “name your price” model continues to challenge industry norms, promoting fairness in pricing while ensuring quality service. This innovative approach has led to inDrive being recognized as the most downloaded app globally for two consecutive years, underscoring its increasing popularity.
Recall that the company announced the week before that it had completed 5 billion deals across its global mobility and urban services platform as of September 2024. According to an announcement by the company, the company’s 5 billionth deal was successfully closed by a driver and passenger in Peru.
According to the statement, this major milestone marks a significant moment for the company since the company launched its innovative bid-based pricing model in 2012 with the goal of making ridesharing pricing fairer for both drivers and passengers.
The company also said that since launching its core service of ride-hailing 11 years ago, its passengers have travelled for a total of 123,500 years, covering a distance of 32 billion km. The company has also expanded to include a range of additional services, most recently launching financial services for drivers in Mexico.