South Africa is filled with driven, hardworking entrepreneurs who simply need the right system to turn effort into ownership, and that is exactly what Moove is building.
South Africa (27 January 2026) – Owning your own car can change everything, especially when that car becomes the engine of your livelihood. For hundreds of South Africans behind the wheel every day, that shift from renting to owning is opening doors to independence, stability and long-term opportunity, and one company is helping make that possible at scale.
Moove, the global mobility company and the world’s largest manned ride-hail fleet operator, has reached a major milestone in South Africa, with more than 400 drivers expected to become first-time vehicle owners through its Drive-to-Own programme over the next 12 months. More than 50 drivers have already graduated this year alone, and every handover tells a bigger story about what access, trust and the right financial tools can unlock. Founded in Nigeria in 2020 and expanding into South Africa in 2021, Moove has steadily built a strong local presence by focusing on drivers who are often overlooked by traditional finance systems. These are hardworking mobility entrepreneurs who know how to earn, but who have historically struggled to access the capital needed to own the very assets that power their income.
Moove’s approach is refreshingly practical. By using driver earnings as a credit score, the company enables drivers to finance new vehicles and repay them through the work they are already doing. It is a model designed around real life, recognising effort, consistency and commitment rather than excluding people because they do not fit conventional banking boxes. The result is a business model that supports ride-hailing platforms like Uber, strengthens partnerships with OEMs, and most importantly, gives drivers a fair shot at ownership.
“South Africa has a deep pool of talented, hardworking mobility entrepreneurs who have not always had access to the financial products needed to grow,” said Maja Smith, Managing Director, Moove South Africa.
“Our Drive-to-Own model is designed to address that gap by offering a responsible, predictable path to vehicle ownership for e-hailing drivers across the country. Not only that but Moove provides a positive long-term impact on society through job creation, enabling future income generation for each driver.”
The Drive-to-Own programme runs over 48 months, a period that builds trust, accountability and long-term commitment on both sides. Drivers pay off their vehicles over this time, supported by Moove’s integrated technology stack, telematics platform and safety-first operational model. This structure ensures vehicle reliability, predictable payments and a clear, achievable pathway to ownership, rather than short-term fixes that leave drivers stuck in cycles of dependency.
Over the past month alone, Moove has handed over car ownership to more than 50 drivers who have been part of the programme since the beginning, with more drivers graduating every single week. Each handover represents more than just a set of keys; it represents control over income, the ability to plan ahead and the confidence that comes with owning something of real value.
“These graduating drivers mark a key moment in our mission to expand access to asset ownership and support economic mobility across the region,” adds Smith. “As we reach our four-year milestone, our focus remains on scaling responsibly, improving the customer experience, and enabling more drivers to build long-term financial stability,”
The human impact of this model is best seen through the stories of the drivers themselves. In a recently shared video, South Africans like Prisca Dube speak about how vehicle ownership has changed their lives, giving them dignity, security and the chance to build something lasting for their families. These are stories about people turning daily graft into real progress, and about work finally leading to ownership.
At its core, this milestone is about more than numbers. It is about proving that when people are given access to fair systems and practical support, they can build sustainable businesses for themselves. For hundreds of South African drivers, the road ahead now leads to ownership, opportunity and a future they can truly drive themselves.
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