When you think of ride hailing services, you might think of companies such as Uber or Lyft, but it seems that ride hailing is an area that Volkswagen wants to get into. So much so that according to a report from Reuters, Volkswagen appears to be gearing up to launch a ride hailing service in Rwanda, Africa.According to Volkswagen brand chief Herbert Diess, he explains why the company has chosen to launch in markets such as Africa, and not in other markets like the US or Europe where the infrastructure and demand for such services are already in place. “Volkswagen wants to strengthen its presence in emerging markets. That is why Africa ranks high on our agenda.”
However Volkswagen’s interest in ride hailing isn’t new. Earlier this year the company invested $300 million into a company called Gett, a company that aims to compete against the likes of Uber by refusing to apply surge price during peak hours, thus making the ride more affordable for customers.
We suppose setting up shop in a market that lacks the services could be a good opportunity for Volkswagen, but whether or not the market will respond favorably to Volkswagen’s ride hailing services is a different story.
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