Uber is ending its UberX ride option in South Africa from September, replacing one of its most familiar services with a smaller lineup of ride options.
The ride-hailing company had previously told customers in Johannesburg that UberX would be discontinued in the city from September 1. It has now extended the change to customers across South Africa.
UberX is Uber’s standard, low-cost ride option. It connects riders with everyday drivers using comfortable, four-door cars that seat up to four passengers. It has long been the company’s standard ride option, typically offering everyday trips in cars such as Toyota Corollas.
Uber said the change is part of an effort to give riders a simpler and more tailored selection of services.
What is replacing UberX?
From September, South African customers will have four main options when booking an Uber: Uber Go, Uber Comfort, Uber Black, and Uber Reserve.
Uber Go will be the lower-cost option, using smaller vehicles for everyday trips and shorter journeys. It is expected to become the closest alternative for riders who previously chose UberX mainly because of its price.
Uber Comfort is aimed at passengers who want newer vehicles, more space, and additional preferences during their trips.
Uber Black will continue to serve customers looking for a more premium experience, with higher-end vehicles and highly rated drivers.
For people who prefer to plan their journeys ahead of time, Uber Reserve allows trips to be booked up to 90 days in advance, with locked-in pricing and an on-time pickup guarantee.
The change means riders will no longer have UberX as a middle-ground option. Instead, they will have to choose between a cheaper ride through Uber Go or pay more for additional comfort and premium services.
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Why is Uber changing its ride options?
Uber has not said that UberX is being discontinued because of a problem with the service. Instead, the company says it wants to simplify its product lineup and give customers options that are more clearly suited to different needs.
The change also comes as affordability becomes an increasingly important part of South Africa’s ride-hailing market.
Uber and Bolt have spent years competing for passengers, with cheaper services becoming an important way to attract customers who are more concerned about the cost of a trip.
Uber has also experimented with other ways to make rides more affordable. In January 2025, the company began piloting Uber Moto in Johannesburg, allowing passengers to request motorcycle rides.
The move attracted criticism from road-safety experts, who questioned whether motorcycles could safely carry passengers on demand, particularly around the availability of correctly sized helmets and the experience of riders.
The concerns point to a difficult balance for ride-hailing companies. Keeping fares affordable can help attract more customers, but pushing prices down can also raise questions about the quality and safety of the service being offered.
The bigger problem facing ride-hailing in South Africa
But Uber’s decision is happening against the backdrop of a South African e-hailing market that is changing rapidly.
The market is growing, but Uber is facing more competition for a share of it. South Africa’s ride-hailing service market was valued at about $483 million in 2022, with e-hailing accounting for around $215 million. The broader market is expected to reach about $1.4 billion by 2032.
Uber was once the dominant e-hailing platform in the country, but that lead has been challenged by Bolt, which entered South Africa in 2016 and has steadily gained ground.
More recent consumer data suggests the gap may have narrowed further. A 2024 Statista survey found that Bolt was used by more South African consumers than Uber, showing how much the competitive landscape has changed since Uber became popular in the country.
And it is no longer just a two-company race.
Smaller platforms are entering the market by focusing on specific groups of passengers and problems that larger companies may not fully address. Wanatu, for instance, positions itself around safer transportation for women, older people, and children, while ChaufHER, SheGo, and Kgosigadi have also built services around female passengers.
For riders, this means more choice. For ride-hailing companies, it means more pressure to give customers a reason to stay.
Price remains important, but passengers also have to consider safety, vehicle quality, driver behaviour, reliability, and convenience when choosing a platform. At the same time, companies have to keep fares attractive without making the service difficult for drivers to sustain.
Uber’s decision to remove UberX and separate its services into cheaper, comfort-focused, and premium options comes at a time when that balance is becoming harder to manage.
The bigger question for the company is whether the new lineup can help it remain competitive in a market where riders have more alternatives and competitors are becoming more specialized.
