After six years, Uber discontinued its ride-hailing operations in Côte d’Ivoire, representing a significant change in the country’s urban transportation sector.
The U.S. company announced its withdrawal on September 25, 2025, apologised for any inconvenience. However, it did not provide a detailed explanation.
This action results in an open market in the face of heightened competition, particularly from regional and local entities. Global models occasionally encounter difficulties adapting to local realities, particularly in the context of pricing and driver payment systems, as evidenced by the exit.
Yango strengthens its mobility presence with car dealership launch
In the weeks preceding Uber’s departure, Yango Group, a ride-hailing company in Dubai, established Yango Motors in Côte d’Ivoire, making a foray into the automotive dealership industry. Tailored to local conditions, this new venture offers access to affordable, dependable vehicles from Chinese manufacturers such as Bestune and Kaiyi.
Kadotien Alassane Soro, Country Head at Yango Côte d’Ivoire, said, “Yango Motors is about more than vehicles—it is about making mobility easier, more accessible… for everyone in Côte d’Ivoire.” By combining competitive pricing with financing partnerships and after-sales support, Yango aims to address a key bottleneck for drivers: vehicle accessibility.
Yango positions itself as a full-stack mobility provider expanding beyond a simple app. This move arrives amid regulatory controls that had recently authorised only three ride-hailing platforms in the country: Uber, Heetch, and Yango.
Uber’s weekly driver reimbursements didn’t match the local market’s cash-flow needs, but Yango and other competitors pay drivers daily. According to analysts, Uber’s higher price limits it compared to cheaper competitors. As Yango seeks to expand across Africa, its vehicle support strategy improves its position.
The departure of Uber opens a significant opportunity in Abidjan’s transport scene, where over 10 million trips occur daily. Yango’s integrated approach—from app to vehicle ownership—could reshape urban mobility by providing the software and hardware essential for reliable transport services in Côte d’Ivoire.
These developments highlight global tech corporations’ difficulties when entering African markets and how local adaptation and service diversification can boost growth. Yango is expanding its investment in Côte d’Ivoire to attract Uber’s customers and make daily travels cheaper for Ivorians.