Bolt, a European ride-hailing startup, has announced its expansion to Nepal, where it will be launching its on-demand ride-hailing service in the capital city of Kathmandu. The company is offering the service without charging any commissions to its partners, while drivers will benefit from lower service fees. The company has already recruited over 400 local drivers to provide the service.
Bolt is entering a market that already has two foreign companies operating in the ride-hailing industry – InDrive and Pathao. However, the company believes it can offer a better and more affordable service to Nepalese customers. Similar to the experience available in Europe and Africa, Bolt will provide safety features such as an SOS button and “Share my ride” feature to Nepalese riders.
Bolt sees the Nepalese market as an opportunity for growth and may eventually expand its business to include grocery and food delivery. However, the startup is currently coordinating operations from its Estonian headquarters and has no immediate plans to expand into larger markets such as India.
