By Shruti Menon Seeboo
A landmark shift in the Mauritian transport sector was officially inaugurated on Wednesday 25 March 2026 at Le Suffren Hotel, as Logidis, a long-standing pioneer in the transport of goods and people, announced a strategic technological franchise partnership with Uber. The collaboration marks the official launch of “Taxi by Ala-lila“, a locally rooted service now powered by Uber’s best-in-class technology, effectively integrating the island’s professional licensed taxis into the global Uber app.
The event signals a defining moment for the island’s mobility landscape. By bridging the gap between traditional licensed services and global digital standards, the presentation to media and stakeholders, including some of the first taxi drivers to sign up on the platform, showcased a partnership aimed to empower local drivers, offer tourists a seamless island experience, and provide a smarter, safer way for every Mauritian to move. With the Uber app already downloaded more than 100,000 times in Mauritius and over 200,000 searches recorded in the last two years, the integration answers a surging appetite for connected, transparent solutions.
Yannis Fayd’herbe: Honouring a Twenty-Year Legacy through Technological Evolution
Addressing the media and stakeholders, Yannis Fayd’herbe, Chief Operating Officer of Logidis, contextualised the announcement within a twenty-year history of digital innovation in Mauritius. He was clear to note that this launch is a culmination of decades of local expertise rather than a sudden disruption.
“Logidis has been the pioneer in online booking for taxis since 2006, where we created the first platform, taxiservices.eu,” Fayd’herbe noted. “So we have been a little bit of instigators for 20 years and since the beginning, our commitment was to work exclusively with licensed taxi drivers. It is a pleasure to welcome today with us several of these taxis that have been working with us for 33 months since the beginning.”
Fayd’herbe explained that the transition to the Uber app is the natural “next stage” of a journey that has seen multiple iterations. “In 2016, we changed our system and we arrived in Alalila… it has been an upgrade in terms of technology. And today, in 2026, we move on to the next stage of technological upgrade. We are pleased to have concluded this partnership with Uber. It is a partnership of a technological franchise.”
Critically for the local market, Fayd’herbe emphasised that the operational heart of the service remains firmly Mauritian. “What is important to understand is that we use Uber technology, but the operator and the operation remain at Logidis, as has been the case for 20 years. We have felt the need on the market today… a lot of taxi drivers today are looking for solutions in terms of online mobility; they are looking for models that are simple and technology-focused on the phone.”
He concluded by reassuring the taxi community that their voices were central to the development of this franchise. “We have already taken into account the comments of our taxi drivers for several months. It is a great fieldwork… the goal was to listen and understand the needs of the taxi drivers, to understand their constraints, to be reassured by this new technology, which will enable them to save their lives. The operation remains and will remain in the hands of the local company, Logidis, as we have done for 20 years.”
Imran Manji: Strengthening the Ecosystem through Global-Local Synergy
Imran Manji, General Manager for East & Southern Africa at Uber, reinforced that the launch of “Taxi by Ala-lila” was an intentional effort to build a “Mauritian model” rather than simply exporting a global product.
“This launch represents something very intentional,” Manji stated. “Not the introduction of a global product into a new market, but instead the coming together of local expertise and global technology to build something that works for Mauritius. Through our partnership with Logidis, a highly respected Mauritian company, we are supporting a taxi-first model designed specifically for this country. Logidis will lead all the operations on the ground, and licensed taxi drivers are at the centre of the service.”
Manji touched upon the vital role taxis play in the island’s identity as a premier global destination. “Mauritius is one of the world’s most renowned tourist destinations. Every year, more than a million visitors arrive on the island, and for many of them, their first interaction with Mauritius is through a taxi. That moment matters. It shapes how a visitor treats the country, how they experience the country… today’s traveller expects to move with the same ease that they move at home. They expect upfront pricing, GPS tracking, and seamless payments.”
Addressing industry concerns about competition, Manji was emphatic: “Our commitment here is very clear. We are here to partner with the local taxi industry, not to compete with it. It’s often misunderstood. Uber’s customer is the driver that uses the platform. That is our customer. That is our partner. We’ve seen this model work in other parts of the world, including London and San Francisco… the results have been remarkable. Drivers who choose to accept trips through the Uber platform have seen meaningful increases in their earnings and more consistent trips throughout the day.”
Manji concluded by sharing his insight into the platform’s safety features. “My favourite feature actually is, if you’re in an Uber and you’re in traffic and you’re at a standstill, all of a sudden the app will ask you a question: ‘Are you okay? Do you need support?’ … it’s just asking you, you’re not alone on the trip. In working with the Logidis team, I learnt a phrase that captures it perfectly: ‘It’s in your hands.’ For us, this means empowering drivers with greater access to opportunity and empowering riders with a safe and reliable way to move around.”
Thomas Singler: Implementing Precision Technology for the Mauritian Context
Providing a detailed technical roadmap of the new system, Thomas Singler, responsible for New Countries Expansion EMEA at Uber, walked the audience through the rigorous verification process and the specific user experience designed for the Mauritian market.
“To register, the drivers download the app called Uber Driver,” Singler explained. “And to make sure that we only have taxi drivers with a licence, we ask them for a certain number of documents that are verified by the Logidis teams and by our teams. This includes their profile picture, driving licence, identity card, taxi pass, and Business Registration Card. Logidis delivers a certificate to make sure that all these documents are verified.”
From the vehicle perspective, Singler noted that drivers must provide a Public Service Licence, Road Tax, Fitness Certificate, and Registration Book. “We make sure that all the vehicle documents correspond to the vehicle that is registered by the driver.”
Singler also detailed a specialised feature called “Geofencing,” which protects the existing operating bases of local taxis. “Taxis that are affected by certain operating bases will be prioritised on dispatch in certain areas, for example at the airport or in front of hotels. We will recreate a virtual queue in front of these hotels or in front of the airport, where they are usually parked… this allows us to recreate the experience and the Mauritian implementation through our technology solution.”
Explaining the booking process, Singler noted that users can choose between products such as Taxi Ala-lila, Taxi Confort, or XL Taxi. “The price of the trips has been replicated on the basis of a benchmark that we have carried out on all the trips that take place in Mauritius and that take place in Ala-lila… so it will not bring a revolution in prices for taxis. The driver has 15 seconds to accept or not accept the race. There is no implication on the fact of not accepting the race; it is totally free.”
He concluded by reinforcing the security features available before, during, and after the trip. “When there are a lot of people, for example, at the airport, we can ask for a pin code to make sure that we took the right Uber. For the driver, we also have speed limit alerts and driving hours limits… all this to ensure safety for both drivers and customers throughout the journey.”
Asraf Ramdin: A Union Perspective on Professionalism and National Interest
The launch also received a significant endorsement from the driver community through Asraf Ramdin, a veteran taxi driver and the Secretary General of the Taxi Owners’ Union. With 30 years of experience in the field, Ramdin’s support signals a major turning point in the relationship between traditional operators and digital platforms.
“With my 30 years of experience in the field, I now welcome this initiative,” he said. Ramdin highlighted the broader social impact of the technology, particularly regarding safety and the night-time economy. “If someone cannot get behind the wheel after having a drink, they can get home safely and, in case of any problem, report it. I find this new system correct. This project comes in the interest of the country, in the interest of all taxi drivers and their families.”
He expressed his gratitude to Logidis, Uber, and Ala-lila, noting that the advanced technology brings a newfound peace of mind to Mauritian parents. “It brings in the safety aspect for the youngsters today; parents will feel assured of their child’s movement and whereabouts.”
Modernising the Journey: Incentives and Access
To encourage immediate adoption, Logidis and Uber have introduced significant advantages. Drivers who register on the app will benefit from dedicated referral programmes and reduced service fees to maximise their earnings.
On the passenger side, “Taxi by Ala-lila” is offering a substantial introductory promotion. By using the code GOMAURITIUS before 15 April, first-time users will receive 100% off their next three trips, up to a value of MUR 550 per trip.
This partnership represents a “win-win” for the Mauritian economy, modernising a critical sector of the nation’s infrastructure while honouring the professionals who have powered it for decades. As the ceremony concluded at Le Suffren, the sentiment was clear: mobility in Mauritius is now powered by local heart and global innovation.
