Locomute

3 minutes (one of a series)

Produced for CNN African Start-Up

As Africa’s highways become increasingly congested, one company is aiming to reduce carbon emissions while bringing greater convenience and flexibility to road users.

Based on international mobility-on-demand models like zipcar, Lcomute, South Africa’s first car-sharing service, allows customers to hire vehicles by the hour.

Locomute is the brainchild of founding partners Tumisang Marope and Ntando Kubheka. Their service is aimed primarily at urban professionals, small businesses and tourists.

Users sign up for the service by filling out a registration form online. After downloading a smartphone app, ‘Locomuters’ can locate and reserve a car nearest to them.

Once located, vehicles are unlocked either through the app or by swiping a membership card over the reader on the windscreen. This cost is inclusive of fuel, insurance, and parking.