Wheely, a luxury-focused ride-hailing service, is set to launch in Dubai, posing a challenge to the market’s current leader, Uber-owned (NYSE:UBER) Careem. The London-based company is targeting affluent clients with a fleet of electric cars.
What Happened: Wheely, a luxury ride-hailing service, is launching in Dubai. The company, founded by Russian-Swiss entrepreneur Anton Chirkunov, will offer rides in Dubai starting Wednesday, with a focus on wealthy clients, reported CNBC.
Wheely’s Dubai launch will see the introduction of BMW 5 Series cars, with plans to add support for BMW’s i5 electric variant in the future. This move is significant, as the i5 is a more affordable option compared to other luxury electric SUVs.
Chirkunov stated that Wheely is targeting Dubai due to its status as a hub for wealthy European business people and digital nomads. This move will bring competition to the ride-hailing market in Dubai, which is currently dominated by Careem.
"We have many North American travellers using Wheely, especially on transfers and flights," Chirkunov said. Wheely's app enables its chauffeur network to check on updates about the ...