Uber is ending its UberX service in South Africa, with the popular ride option set to disappear from the app on 1 September 2026.
The company has informed customers that UberX will be discontinued as it moves to a simpler selection of ride options.
UberX has been part of the local e-hailing market for more than a decade. Uber launched in South Africa in August 2013, while UberX arrived in Cape Town in June 2014 before expanding to Johannesburg two months later.
Four Uber options will remain
From September, South African users will be able to choose from four main ride options: Uber Go, Uber Comfort, Uber Black and Uber Reserve.
Uber Go is positioned as the lower-cost option, using smaller vehicles for short trips around town.
Uber Comfort offers newer vehicles with more space. Riders can also request a quiet trip.
Uber Black remains the premium option, with higher-end vehicles and top-tier drivers. It also includes longer waiting times.
Uber Reserve allows customers to book a trip up to 90 days in advance, with pricing confirmed ahead of the journey and a scheduled pickup time.
Uber said the new lineup is designed to give customers clearer choices depending on their budget and the type of trip they want.
UberX leaves after more than a decade
UberX became a familiar option for riders who wanted a more affordable alternative to Uber Black.
The service generally used vehicles in the Toyota Corolla class and could carry up to four passengers.
Its removal marks a major change to Uber’s South African offering, particularly for customers who have used UberX as their standard option for everyday trips.
The decision also comes as the local e-hailing market continues to focus heavily on lower-cost services.
For existing UberX users, the biggest change from 1 September will be choosing between Uber Go for cheaper trips or Uber Comfort for more space and newer vehicles.
Uber has not indicated that it is leaving South Africa. The change applies specifically to UberX as the platform reshapes the ride categories available to local customers.
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