Uber and Careem ask for group transport licenses to add new public buses to their services

Ride-hailing apps Uber and Careem submitted requests to the Public Transport Authority asking for licenses to include a group transport option to their services, using the authority’s new WiFi-equipped buses, Al Borsa reports. The authority had signed a EGP 35 mn agreement with MAN-Kastour back in July to purchase 13 double-decker buses that will be introduced to Cairo’s streets in early 2018, with plans to issue more tenders soon. Also in July, Careem invested USD 500k in bus service Swvl as part of its plan to expand into group transport. Uber had also said it was planning to launch a new bus service in Egypt once legislation governing the ride-hailing apps was introduced.