Latest news with #Muirson
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Bolt's launch exceeds targets
Bolt New Zealand general manager Adam Muirson wants the ride-hailing company to concentrate on Auckland first before moving to Christchurch. Photo: Bolt NZ European ride-hailing company Bolt is eyeing up Christchurch and Wellington but only after building its Auckland base. The launch in the country's largest city has quickly surpassed rider and driver targets. Bolt's entry into Auckland in mid-June extended the competition beyond marketplace kingpin Uber and India's DiDi, which moved into the capital city last month. The Estonian-headquartered company repeated its plans to open up in other cities, but would not be moved on when it might expand its app-based service south. Aside from taxis, Uber is the only ride-hailing operator in Christchurch. Bolt New Zealand general manager Adam Muirson said the company wanted to continue building an Auckland base before looking at other cities. "We definitely have got strong national aspirations, but the important thing right now is we are focused on getting Auckland right. So we have a number of goals to get here before we further our thoughts or put a timeline to the expansion." Extending ride-hailing to other cities was expected to be easier than setting up in a new country as it had an on-boarding platform for riders and drivers already in place. The next steps would be to alert regulators and partners, opening up the app for drivers to apply and letting new riders know it was open for ride requests. Mr Muirson said New Zealand was positively positioned for expansion as, unlike some countries, it had one set of regulations to follow. Bolt had developed strong relationships with regulatory bodies. "So opening in another city is far simpler compared with opening the first. Of course there is a lot of work and complexity which goes into it, but it won't take anywhere near as long as it did for Auckland." He said the Auckland launch over the past two months had exceeded expectations. More drivers joining than expected had provided strong coverage within the first week, while rider sign-ups had surpassed targets. "We are months ahead of where we thought we would have been from both of those numbers. ... "We have got many, many Aucklanders trying Bolt for the first time and because we have got so many more partner drivers and riders signed up than expected, total rides are far ahead of where we projected." He said the strong demand reflected the desire for better value in ride-hailing. Stagnant competition had resulted in riders and drivers "piling" into Bolt quickly. Within the first week of opening competitors had provided discounts in response to incentives promoted on the Bolt app for riders and drivers, he said. Bolt's entry follows the exit of Ola and Zoomy over the past two years. The company is Europe's leading ride-hailing platform, operating in more than 600 cities across 50 countries and has more than 200 million users world-wide. Over the past year Bolt has opened up in Greece, Canada under the brand name Hopp, the UAE and Malaysia. Among the first New Zealand riders were Kiwis who had Bolt accounts when they were travelling abroad. Mr Muirson said the company had taken lessons learned from operating in four continents and applied them to New Zealand so riders were paying less and partner drivers were being paid more. Bolt has a local team in Auckland and drivers can book drop-in sessions with staff to address any challenges or general queries. A few weeks ago the company released a family plan so trips could be taken and paid under a single account. Bolt-branded signage was launched last week for drivers in return for increased earnings. Mr Muirson said ride-hailing was helping people move away from private car dependency and providing a more affordable option for getting around the city. Bolt is about to release further target achievements over the next few days.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Ride-hailing company eyes up Christchurch
European ride-hailing company Bolt is eyeing up Christchurch and Wellington after an Auckland launch quickly surpassed rider and driver targets. Bolt's entry into Auckland in mid-June extended the competition beyond marketplace kingpin Uber and India's DiDi, which moved into the capital city last month. The Estonian headquartered company repeated its plans to open up in other cities, but would not be moved on when it might expand its app-based service to the south. Aside from taxis, Uber is the only ride-hailing operator in Christchurch. Bolt New Zealand general manager Adam Muirson said the company wanted to continue building an Auckland base before looking at other cities. "We definitely have got strong national aspirations, but the important thing right now is we are focused on getting Auckland right. "So we have a number of goals to get here before we further our thoughts or put a timeline to the expansion." Extending ride-hailing to other cities was expected to be easier than setting up in a new country as it had an onboarding platform for riders and drivers already in place. The next steps would be to alert regulators and partners, opening up the app for drivers to apply and let new riders know it was open for ride requests. Muirson said New Zealand was positively positioned for expansion as, unlike some countries, it had one set of regulations to follow. Bolt had developed strong relationships with regulatory bodies. "So opening in another city is far simpler compared with opening the first. Of course there is a lot of work and complexity which goes into it, but it won't take anywhere near as long as it did for Auckland." He said the Auckland launch over the past two months had exceeded expectations. More drivers joining than expected had provided strong coverage within the first week, while rider sign-ups had surpassed targets. "We are months ahead of where we thought we would have been from both of those numbers ... We have got many, many Aucklanders trying Bolt for the first time and because we have got so many more partner drivers and riders signed up than expected total rides are far ahead of where we projected." He said the strong demand reflected the desire for better value in ride-hailing. Stagnant competition had resulted in riders and drivers "piling" into Bolt quickly. Within the first week of opening competitors had provided discounts in response to incentives promoted on the Bolt app for riders and drivers, he said. Bolt's entry follows the exit of Ola and Zoomy over the past two years. The company is Europe's leading ride-hailing platform, operating in more than 600 cities across 50 countries and has more than 200 million users world-wide. Over the past year, Bolt has opened up in Greece, Canada under the brand name Hopp, Dubai and Malaysia. Among the first NZ riders were Kiwis who had Bolt accounts when they were travelling abroad. Muirson said the company had taken lessons learned from operating in four continents and applied them to New Zealand so riders were paying less and partner drivers were being paid more. Bolt has a local team in Auckland and drivers can book drop-in sessions with staff to address any challenges or general queries. A few weeks ago the company released a family plan so trips could be taken and paid under a single account. Bolt-branded signage was launched last week for drivers in return for increased earnings. Muirson said ride hailing was helping people move away from private car dependency and providing a more affordable option for getting around the city. Bolt is about to release further target achievements over the next few days.
Techday NZ
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Techday NZ
Bolt enters Auckland to challenge ride-hailing market leaders
Bolt has launched its ride-hailing platform in Auckland, entering the New Zealand market to increase competition in the sector. The platform is now operational and aims to challenge the two companies currently dominating ride-hailing across the country. Bolt offers an alternative both for drivers, with a focus on more favourable working arrangements, and for riders, who may benefit from more affordable prices and increased service options. Bolt operates in more than 600 cities across 50 countries worldwide, where it provides ride-hailing and mobility services. The company's entry into New Zealand forms part of its broader goal to reshape urban transport, with a stated focus on supporting both drivers and riders. Adam Muirson, Bolt New Zealand General Manager, said, "New Zealand's ride-hailing market has had limited choice for too long. We're here to introduce real competition and a smarter alternative to car ownership, helping Kiwis move around cities more affordably, efficiently and with greater choice." The company has positioned itself with a driver-first approach, offering features including flexible schedules, local 24/7 support, and a commission structure designed to increase driver earnings. According to Bolt, over 4.5 million drivers and couriers are active on the platform globally. For passengers, Bolt states that its ride-hailing service is intended to offer a viable alternative to private car ownership, particularly at a time when car costs and environmental concerns are pressing. New Zealand has among the highest car ownership rates in the world, reportedly with 869 cars per 1,000 people. Recent increases in Auckland parking fees and continued congestion are considered by Bolt to be drivers of demand for other transport options. Muirson commented, "There's a shift happening. Young people are delaying or forgoing licences. Families are questioning the need for a second car. We want Bolt to be the go-to choice for everyday city trips, whether it's getting to work, heading out with friends or running errands." Bolt has highlighted several safety features integrated within its app. These include real-time trip sharing, allowing both riders and drivers to share a live trip link via SMS or WhatsApp, and driver/rider unmatching, where a one-star trip rating results in the rider and driver being unmatched for future journeys. Additionally, both groups can identify trusted contacts whom Bolt's safety team can contact in emergencies. The platform also provides 24/7 customer support and live location tracking, which users can access through the app. Safety oversight is maintained by a dedicated in-house team. With its global mission of reducing dependence on private cars and helping to alleviate strain on urban infrastructure, Bolt is positioning shared mobility as a means to lower emissions and reduce demand for space-consuming parking. The company notes that cities where ride-hailing is integrated with public transport have experienced decreased car use and congestion. Bolt is seeking to build a customer base through a focus on local service provision, technology-driven efficiency, and an emphasis on ensuring driver satisfaction. The company has announced plans to expand to Wellington and Christchurch, with additional regional centres being considered as subsequent stages of its entry into the New Zealand market. Muirson said, "We're not here to be just another app. We're here to change the way people move around New Zealand's cities."
