Estonia-based transportation firm, Taxify has today announced it’s re-branding to ‘Bolt’. Earlier on rumors stated the company was re-branding as ‘Rider’, but the company came out to deny the rumors.
It happens that Bolt is the same name that the company has been using for its new electric scooter service, to double down on providing multiple transportation options beyond private cars.
According to Bolt, the update brings the brand identity in line with its broader vision of transportation that has already expanded from cabs and motorbikes, to now scooter sharing.
Bolt today becomes the first ride-hailing company to bring ride-hailing and scooter sharing and is currently working on expanding the scooter sharing service across a number of European and African cities were it operates.
Bolt operates in 30 countries globally with over 25 million users. Making a key shift in its business today as it gears up for its next stage of growth.
CEO and co-founder Markus Villig said, the rebrand from Taxify to Bolt is serving a few purposes. Tapping the basic meanings of “bolt”, the new name implies speed, as well as electricity.
Julian Byamugisha, Country Manager for Uganda at Bolt said given the company’s ambition to solve transportation problems on an increasingly broader scale, they want the brand to reflect the company’s future rather than the past.
“Our new name ‘Bolt’ stands for fast, effortless movement — exactly what the experience of getting around in a city should be, be it by car, scooter or public transport. It also underscores our belief that the future of transportation will be electric,” said Julian.
