Ford and an Egyptian startup called Swvl have announced a new strategic partnership that will see Ford Transit vans used as the vehicle of choice for Swvl. The announcement came at a press conference in Cairo. Swvl is a transportation startup founded in 2017 that uses Ford Transit vans as the vehicle for its app-based bus booking service.
Currently, Swvl operates in Cario, Alexandria, and Nairobi; it allows users to book a ride on the fixed routes its Ford Transit vans run. The company is reported to be handling tens of thousands of trips daily right now. It’s also the best funded Egyptian startup having raised tens of millions of dollars via local investors.
Swvl has also announced a partnership with local banks Nasser Social Bank and EFG Hermes to offer competitive lending rates for operators who want to use the Ford Transit van as their vehicle of choice. The Transit comes in both 15 and 18-seat configurations. This is the same van that Ford uses in its GoRide health transport that aims to get people to their non-emergency medical appointments.
The first consignment of Transit vans has arrived in Egypt for the service. In Egypt, Ford and its local distributor have worked with Swvl and the Egyptian government to provide Swvl captains (drivers) with financing facilities through Nasser Social Bank and EFG Hermes Bank. The deal will also provide after-sales support and maintenance services through Auto Jameel’s network and Ford-trained technicians.
The Swvl service is seen as a great way to ease congestion in the regions where it operates and to give people an easy way to get around. Ford Managing Director of Egypt, Achraf El Boustani, says that Ford is “thrilled” to bring the Transit to Egypt.
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Source: Menabytes
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