Uber adds X factor to bring down cost

Install the Uber app on your smartphone, and you can summon a ride anywhere, any time.

Install the Uber app on your smartphone, and you can summon a ride anywhere, any time.

Published Aug 22, 2014

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Johannnesburg - Uber is a chauffeur service that uses a smartphone app to connect you with a private driver – and now there’s a new low-cost option called uberX which was launched here last week.

Following the higher-end UberBlack service, which has been available since last August, uberX offers the same chauffeur experience but at a more affordable rate, with lower-end vehicles used to transport you around.

In other words, where Black gets you a Benz, X gets you an Avanza. The cost difference is significant, too – Sandton to OR Tambo with Black will set you back around R450, while X is about a third cheaper at R300.

CASHLESS SYSTEM

The system is cashless, with riders using the app to make the booking, at the same time able to see the driver’s photo, name and car registration. You also get access to a live GPS-enabled map throughout the journey, meaning you can estimate how long the trip will take; and if you’re a member of Discovery Insure, you get a 25 percent discount on the trip.

“Our vision is that uberX will be so affordable, reliable and efficient that the need for car ownership in the city will soon become a thing of the past,” said Alon Lits, general manager of Uber Johannesburg.

To request a ride users need to download the free app for Android, iPhone, Windows Phones, and Blackberry 7. - Star Motoring

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