In the coming years, the taxi industry is to face a major overhaul, driven by new market demands, technological advancements and changing consumer preferences.

Across the world, premium car brands have joined the taxi space and Kenya is not being left behind.

Uber has unveiled its premium rides Uber Comfort, where riders will experience some of the newest cars on the Uber platform.

However unlike in the more developed nations where SUVs and Luxury Cars like the Benz, Teslas and Lexus are running the space, Kenya will not experience that just yet.

Head of Uber East Africa, Imran Manji, says that there is no demand for that kind of luxury in Kenya currently.

“In the future, we may see that but at the moment, what we are offering are the seven-seater cars that are bigger and newer,” said Manji.

Ride-hailing services have emerged as a disruptive force, challenging traditional taxi operators with their convenient mobile platforms and competitive pricing models.

Increasing urbanisation and the rise of the gig economy are fueling demand for on-demand transportation solutions, leading to the proliferation of ride-hailing companies worldwide.

Uber Comfort has been launched around the world and within Sub-Saharan Africa, it is available in South Africa, Ghana and Ivory Coast.

“With the launch of Uber Comfort in Nairobi, we are providing our most discerning passengers with a modern, spacious and personalizable method of moving around our city, while also introducing more options for drivers to access economic opportunities,” added Manji.

Uber’s offering for the local market enables the riders will be able to personalise their rides according to their specific requirements, including vehicle temperature and conversation preferences.

However, the firm say that trips booked under Uber Comfort will be priced slightly higher than their UberX counterparts.

This premium pricing reflects the enhanced comfort and customization options provided to riders opting for the Uber Comfort service.

With the ride-hailing market growing, Global Taxi Market size was valued at $203.16 billion in 2022 and is poised to grow from $229.89 billion in 2023, to $618.11 billion by 2031, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 13.16 per cent during the forecast period (2024-2031).