Miami - U.S. Company Uber announced it will begin operations in Marrakech during the December holiday festivities so customers can benefit from their services before the official launch in 2016.
Miami – U.S. Company Uber announced it will begin operations in Marrakech during the December holiday festivities so customers can benefit from their services before the official launch in 2016.
“Uber’s soft opening in Marrakech is scheduled from December 23 to January 2,” Uber Morocco’s Director Meryem Belqziz announced, according to Telquel.
“The Holidays are an opportunity for Casablanca residents to take a vacation and many of our customers will go to Marrakech,” Belqziz said.
During this soft opening, “part of Casablanca partner drivers will therefore travel to Marrakech to provide on-site service,” she added.
According to the same source, the Casablanca-Marrakech route will be charged at a fixed rate of MAD 1,500 for 4-6 people per vehicle.
“This is a marketing strategy that will allow us to test the market in Marrakech” before the official launch of Uber services at the beginning of 2016.
The transportation network company develops, markets and operates the Uber mobile app, which allows consumers with smartphones to submit a trip request which is then routed to Uber drivers who use their own cars to transport customers.
Uber launched its services in Morocco this year in Casablanca, which became the 328th city in the world to benefit from the taxi-finding company.
“The priority remains Casablanca” Uber Morocco’s Director stressed, adding that “We now effectively cover the city center and we continue to be as effective in the periphery, to Bernoussi and Bouskoura, for example.”
Uber has expanded its coverage in Morocco amidst harsh criticism. In August, the Wilaya of Casablanca had deemed its services illegal, however the company has remained operational and continues to expand into Marrakech, Rabat and Tangier as planned.