Bolt has taken a bold step in Cape Town by launching a women-led, branded Citroën fleet, marking a new chapter in South Africa’s e-hailing industry.
This initiative, announced on June 4, highlights the company’s commitment to vehicle availability, driver empowerment, and elevating service standards in a traditionally male-dominated sector.
Women driving change: Leadership behind the new fleet
Daisy Kisten, Country Manager at Auto24, and Elize Faivelowitz, Director of Pro Driver Placements, spearhead the new fleet. Their partnership brings operational excellence and deep industry insight to the project, ensuring the vehicles are reliable, safe, and professionally managed.
Kisten’s Auto24 handles sourcing, reconditioning, and servicing, guaranteeing each Citroën meets high standards before hitting the roads. Faivelowitz’s Pro Driver Placements manages and deploys the fleet, focusing on driver support and stability.
Bolt’s Senior General Manager for South Africa, Lerato Motsoeneng, emphasised the importance of this partnership: “Working with leaders like Daisy and Elize, who bring unmatched operational excellence and deep industry insight, allows us to grow responsibly while empowering local businesses and drivers. This is what inclusive, scalable innovation looks like”.
This women-led initiative is not just about expanding the fleet; it’s about reshaping the industry by introducing professionalism and accountability while creating new opportunities for female drivers and entrepreneurs in Cape Town.
Enhancing rider and driver experience with quality and safety
The branded Citroën fleet offers passengers a consistent, premium ride experience while lowering barriers for drivers seeking dependable, road-ready vehicles. These vehicles will be available through Bolt Business, the company’s platform dedicated to corporate travel.
Bolt Business allows organisations to align travel policies with social impact goals by supporting women’s empowerment.
Bolt has also shown an ongoing commitment to driver support in Cape Town by opening a second driver engagement centre in Thornton. This centre provides face-to-face support and training sessions on customer service, safety, and vehicle maintenance and serves as a lost-and-found hub for passengers.
Such initiatives aim to improve driver satisfaction and maximise earnings, reinforcing Bolt’s dedication to a professional and supportive driver environment.
Additionally, Bolt has pioneered safety-focused services like the “Women Only” ride type, launched in 2021, which connects female passengers exclusively with female drivers.
This service operates daily from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and includes an SOS emergency button integrated into the app for quick access to private armed response and emergency services. This reflects Bolt’s broader strategy to enhance safety and comfort for women riders and drivers across South Africa.
Bolt’s launch of a women-led fleet in Cape Town clearly signals its commitment to inclusive growth, driver empowerment, and improved service quality. By combining professional fleet management, driver support, and safety innovations, Bolt sets new South African e-hailing market standards.