Cape Town – Uber is set to discontinue its UberX ride category in South Africa as the company restructures its product offering and seeks to create clearer distinctions between its growing range of services.
UberX was one of the company’s earliest offerings when it launched in South Africa in 2013 and went on to become a key part of its expansion across the country.
According to News24, an Uber spokesperson confirmed that UberX would be phased out at the end of August.
“Over time, we observed that it had become harder for riders to distinguish between products, reducing differentiation for drivers operating higher-spec vehicles,” the spokesperson said.
The company said the decision was aimed at simplifying its product portfolio while creating clearer categories for both riders and drivers.
UberX drivers will not automatically lose access to the platform following the change, Business Insider African reported.
The drivers will still be able to accept trips through other Uber categories, provided their vehicles meet the relevant eligibility requirements.
The move effectively reshapes Uber’s pricing structure in South Africa, with Uber Go positioned at the lower-cost end of the market, while services such as Uber Comfort and Uber Black cater to customers looking for higher-specification vehicles and additional features.
The company’s expanding range of services means customers can choose from options including Uber Go, larger-capacity vehicles, courier services and electric-vehicle rides. Motorbike trips have also recently been introduced in parts of Gauteng.
While the wider selection gives Uber more flexibility to cater to customers based on price, vehicle type and trip requirements, it has also resulted in greater overlap between some of its products.
The phasing out of UberX is therefore intended to make the available categories easier for riders to understand while providing drivers with clearer opportunities across the platform.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
