The News category in the Press Section of the eCabs website

Here one can find informative and interesting articles which the tech mobility company publishes from time to time.

Please click on the photo above each item to access the original article.

Wolt and eCabs team up to offer discounted rides to Wolt+ members in Malta

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Wolt and eCabs have announced a new local partnership aimed at enhancing convenience for users across Malta. Wolt+ users can now benefi t from 20% off their eCabs rides (maximum of four discounts in total per month capped at €1.50 per ride).

The initiative marks a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the global leader and the homegrown Maltese platform, offering users more value in their daily routines – be it ordering dinner, heading to a meeting, or catching a ride home.

”The benefi t is available exclusively to Wolt+ subscribers and can be accessed through both the Wolt and eCabs apps. The rides are fulfilled by eCabs and can be used for any route within Malta, offering a smart solution for short trips and everyday needs.”

eCabs also welcomed the partnership.

“We’re thrilled to team up with Wolt in this collaboration that brings added value to our most loyal eCabs customers. With this partnership, Wolt+ users can enjoy discounted rides with eCabs, while our top riders benefit from three months of Wolt+ at no cost – a win-win that rewards loyalty and convenience. At eCabs, we’re always looking for meaningful ways to enhance the everyday experience of our users, and working with Wolt is a great step in that direction,” Maria Victoria Gomez, Growth Manager at eCabs, said.

The partnership strengthens the local ecosystem of urban convenience, offering an integrated solution for transport, food, and retail via two platforms that aim to enhance life in Malta.

Key details

  • Offer: Wolt+ members in Malta can enjoy 20% off up to four eCabs rides per month, with a maximum discount of €1.50 per ride.
  • Where: The offer is valid across all routes within Malta, and available through both the Wolt and eCabs apps.
  • When: Currently available for all Wolt+ subscribers in Malta.
  • How: Members can claim the promo code by visiting the eCabs store within the Wolt app. The code is sent via SMS and must be entered in the “Promotions” tab of the eCabs app before booking a ride.
  • Learn more: https://wolt.com/en/mlt/malta/article/mlt-ecabs-wolt-plus

There’s a new trend for cabs this Christmas: Pre-booking

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The number of people booking cabs ahead of time over the festive period has increased by 20 per cent compared to 2024, a local cab company’s data shows.

A spokesperson for eCabs said that, while instant bookings on the company’s ride-hailing app also increased by a similar percentage, the spike in pre-bookings was a new phenomenon.

The company added it believed that, aside from its own efforts to make its service reliable around the clock, the increase in bookings was also the result of the government’s efforts to tackle dangerous driving, particularly around the holidays.

Delving further into the data, the company said demand was spread across the entire day, with passengers opting to book a cab in the morning, afternoon, evening and into the night.

Passengers booking several cabs throughout same day

“We also have noticed a phenomenon of passengers booking several cabs throughout the same day, indicating that users are opting to leave their car at home and use alternative means of transport for the entire day.”

eCabs said it expected the trend to continue in the week leading up to New Year’s Day and that the overall pattern was not unique to Malta.

“2025 marks two years since the eCabs Technologies ride-hailing platform began powering mobility operations in several cities across Europe, Australia and beyond. Data from across the platform shows comparable increases, particularly in pre-bookings, in cities ranging from Berlin to Athens. In Australia, despite Christmas coming during their warmer months, we still saw similar activity.”

Questions regarding Christmas trends were also sent to Bolt and Uber.

Throughout December, a Transport Malta truck with a small cinema inside has been touring Malta, showing a graphic video promoting safe driving and warning of the potential consequences of driving under the influence.

The video shows a young girl singing on stage, while her parents’ seats remain empty due to a traffic accident. It includes brief depictions of blood and explores themes of loss caused by drink-driving and reckless driving.

New ‘L-Istrina’ ride category launched by eCabs ahead of national charity telethon

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eCabs launched a new ‘L-Istrina’ ride category on Monday, aiding pledge collection and strengthening its partnership with the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation.

The new ride category is priced at the rate of an eCabs Go, however, with a €0.50 supplement per trip donated to L-Istrina.

“The company was proud to reinforce its commitment to L-Istrina”, said Luke Spiteri, Head of Operations at eCabs Malta, adding that this ride category “gives people a simple and meaningful way to contribute through their everyday mobility”.

This option will remain available until 26 December, and this year’s collaboration also includes a 45-person team giving operational support on Boxing Day, with 30 vehicles, 45 drivers and 4 logistics coordinators, working free of charge to assist with pledge collection.

These vehicles are also currently circulating in Malta, carrying branded L-Istrina stickers, encouraging the public to “ride for a cause”.

Mark Mizzi, Head of Finance and Operations at the Malta Community Chest Fund, expressed his gratitude towards eCabs’ support.

Source: MaltaToday

eCabs completes €18m white-label ride-hailing platform

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Local cab company eCabs has completed an €18 million development programme for a white-label version of its ride-hailing platform that is set to be used in Romania, the UK and Germany.

The upcoming overseas launches follow an expansion into the Greek market in 2023, when the Maltese company saw its cab app technology rolled out by Athens-based company taxi.gr.

The €18 million development programme is among the largest ever locally funded tech development cycles and was funded by equity provided by eCab’s founders with co-lending support from the Malta Development Bank and BOV, the company said in a statement.

The development cycle saw artificial intelligence (AI) employed to “maximise efficiency and profitability” of fleets using the platform while enabling “seamless” ride hailing and journeys and those dispatched by operators, it said.

The company said the platform was “scalable [and] regulation-adaptive” for use in different markets and provided “real-time data-driven insights” to support decisions taken by businesses operating the technology.

eCabs Technologies CEO and founder Matthew Bezzina called the end of the development cycle a “major step” for the firm and said it would help companies using the platform to scale up their operations and stay competitive.

“Launching in multiple European cities before even completing the full product development cycle shows that there is a need for this solution, and we are now thrilled to be taking our platform to market,” he said.

Announcing the milestone, eCabs said that, with the European ride-hailing market expected to grow from €85 billion to over €140 billion in the next seven years, local operators were under increasing pressure to compete with global platforms.

“With ride-hailing giants under increasing pressure to operate on commercially viable terms, competition is shifting back to reliability, efficiency and brand trust,” said Bezzina.

“This is where traditional operators have an edge, and our platform gives them the technology to make that edge count.”

In November, Bezzina told a United Nations-organised Global Innovation Forum that, while Malta was an ideal location to test out tech start-ups, scaling internationally had traditionally proved to be more difficult – a challenge the company appears to have overcome with the white-label version of its platform.

White-label products are created by manufacturers for use by other companies under their own branding.

Malta-based eCabs Technologies employs some 450 employees and operates around a quarter of a million rides each month.

eCabs partners with L-Istrina to help collect financial pledges

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eCabs will be making 30 vehicles and drivers available to Boxing Day charity telethon L-Istrina, the cab company has said.

The vehicles, which have all been rebranded to raise awareness of L-Istrina, will be used to collect financial pledges from businesses and individuals across the country. Four other eCabs staff members will help coordinate the vehicles throughout the day.

L-Istrina is a 12-hour charity telethon held every year on Boxing Day to raise millions of euros for the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation. Fastdrop, a specialised delivery service provider and part of the eCabs group of businesses, will also contribute vehicles and staff to this initiative.

Mark Mizzi, Head of Finance & Operations at the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation, thanked eCabs for its continued partnership. eCabs malta Head of Operations Luke Spiteri said the company was proud to be backing L-Istrina.

Beyond the 12-hour telethon on Boxing Day, eCabs and Fastdrop will also be helping L-Istrina staff collect funds pledged after the Boxing Day event.

eCabs launch 'Cabs bil-Bajd' in aid of male cancer support

eCabs launch ‘Cabs bil-Bajd’ in aid of male cancer support

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eCabs has announced the launch of a new rides category that will support male cancer awareness throughout November. 

It will donate 50 cents from every ‘Cab bil Bajd’ ride to the newly formed Male Cancer Awareness and Support Foundation (MCASF) as it does its part in support of Movember. 

The annual movement highlights male-specific health issues such as prostate and testicular cancer, mental health challenges, and suicide prevention, which eCabs aims to contribute meaningfully to this year. 

The ‘Cab bil Bajd’ category will be offered at the same fare as the popular eCabs GO category, making it both accessible and impactful for passengers who wish to show their support. 

https://www.tiktok.com/@ecabsmalta/video/7433346270913137952

“Movember is a time to take action, and we really wanted to grab this important issue by the balls. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce Cab bil Bajd as a way for our riders to contribute directly to an issue that affects so many men and their families,” eCabs Malta CEO Andrew Bezzina said. 

Gavril Flores, who serves as the chair of the MCASF, expressed his appreciation for the initiative.

“We are grateful to eCabs for aligning with our mission during this pivotal time of awareness.”

“Our focus is to raise awareness and be there for people in challenging times through dedicated support groups so the important aspect of this collaboration is beyond the financial aspect but to help open up conversations about male health, which can often be overlooked. We believe that awareness leads to early detection which can save lives, and for that, we’re thankful.”

Prostate and testicular cancer are among the most common male-specific cancers. Prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in men globally, with early detection significantly improving treatment success rates. 

Symptoms often go unnoticed in the early stages, making regular check-ups essential for timely intervention. Testicular cancer, while less common, is the most prevalent cancer in younger men aged 15-35.

It often presents as a painless lump or swelling in the testicles and, like prostate cancer, has a high success rate when diagnosed early.

In the Press:

Times of Malta | Lovin’ Malta | Malta Daily

Women+ category in support of female drivers, riders

eCabs Malta introduces Women+ in support of female drivers, riders

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eCabs has announced a new ride type category operated by women for women that’s geared towards supporting female drivers, promoting passenger safety,  as well as contributing to women’s education and empowerment initiatives.

The app will also donate to women’s education and empowerment through the month of March.

The new Women+ category will give riders the option to select a female driver when hailing a ride on the eCabs app in Malta.For riders, opting for Women+ there will be greater peace of mind, while ETAs and fares will be in line with the eCabs Go category.

Female drivers who opt to participate in Women+ will benefit from a 0% commission rate from 8th to 15th March and a discounted 10% commission for the rest of the month, while carrying out Women+ rides.

Women drivers will also be free to cancel or refuse male riders on Women+ without being penalised.

Set to roll out today Thursday, 7th March, just in time for International Women’s Day, eCabs has also pledged to donate 50 cents from each Women+ ride completed throughout March to the FIDEM Charity Foundation.

Set up in 2018, the FIDEM Foundation provides support and empowerment opportunities to vulnerable people, particularly women, adolescent girls, and children, across Malta and Gozo through life-changing access to education and well-being guidance.

Announcing the new rides category, Andrew Bezzina, Chief Executive Officer of eCabs’ Malta Operation, said the initiative underscores the ride-hailing company’s commitment to promoting safety, peace of mind, and inclusivity across its platform.

“At eCabs we’ve always believed in the importance of encouraging more women to enter this dynamic sector, which is still dominated by men,” he said. “This is why we have decided to launch Women+ and to partner with The FIDEM Foundation – an organisation that lives by the words ‘give a woman a fish and you feed her for a day. Teach a woman to fish and you feed her for a lifetime’.

“We strongly believe in empowering more women to succeed and are thrilled to be partnering with this organisation.” Bezzina added.“It’s time for women to get in the driver’s seat,” he said.“We also believe in offering alternatives for riders who would prefer to choose a female driver. eCabs was set up to build an inclusive and safe ride hailing community and this is another important step in that journey,” Bezzina concluded.

On her part, FIDEM Foundation founder Sabine Agius Cabourdin said she was thrilled to be collaborating with eCabs.”We are honoured that eCabs chose FIDEM Foundation for their Women’s Day fundraising initiative. It means the world to us knowing that we can continue working with vulnerable people who need our help,” she said.“Every cent goes into ensuring that women and adolescent girls can have access to training courses and education that will help them change their lives.” she added.

FIDEM Foundation has helped around 300 women and girls, and sometimes their children too, by covering educational course fees and other costs such as course materials, laptops, uniforms and even transport.“It gives us tremendous satisfaction when we see one of our service users go from homelessness and domestic abuse to graduating from university and thriving in a new career that gives her financial independence. This is how we empower women holistically.” Agius Cabourdin concluded.

Highlights:

  • Swift service: With an estimated average ETA in line with the eCabs Go service, the Women+ category promises timely and efficient rides for all users.
  • Competitive pricing: The pricing for Women+ rides will also be on par with the eCabs Go category.
  • Supporting women empowerment: For every completed Women+ ride in March, 50 cents will be donated by eCabs to FIDEM, a reputable NGO committed to providing education and well-being guidance to vulnerable women. By choosing Women+, you’re not just getting a ride, you’re helping an important social cause.
  • Driver incentives: To encourage participation, there will be a 0% driver commission for the first week on all Women+ rides, followed by a 10% discounted commission until the end of March.
  • Safety first:  The well-being of eCabs users is our top priority and a task we do not take lightly. That’s why we operate a 24/7 support line and in-app safety features – because we are committed to ensuring a secure environment for all stakeholders.

In the press:

Times of Malta | Malta Daily | Lovin Malta

eCabs extends partnership with L-Istrina

eCabs extends partnership with L-Istrina

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eCabs and its sister company Fastdrop announced a logistical partnership with L-Istrina, the annual 12-hour telethon dedicated to raising vital funds for the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation.

Building on a longstanding commitment to the charitable cause, eCabs said it will this year provide 20 vehicles and 20 professional chauffeurs from noon until the annual telethon closes at midnight.

These vehicles will carry L-Istrina personnel tasked with collecting pledges of financial donations from businesses and individuals all across the island.

Several of the vehicles being used form part of the Fastdrop fleet – eCabs’ sister company specialised in delivery.

Meanwhile, a dedicated team of eCabs logistics experts will also embed with the state IT agency MITA to coordinate routes.

eCabs Malta Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bezzina said that while eCabs has been a long standing supporter of L-Istrina, the company now considers itself an active partner in the event.

“eCabs is a Maltese company, set up to serve the Maltese community. That is why we are thrilled to support L-Istrina every year – a national effort which touches the lives of so many,” Bezzina said.

Fastdrop Chief Executive Officer Greta Borg said the company was pleased to be supporting L-Istrina, as well as providing pro bono logistical support for several other charitable initiatives, including migrant respite organisation MOAS, and Fondazzjoni Sebħ which works with women survivors of violence.

Fastdrop is a last-mile parcel delivery service and forms part of the eCabs group of companies.

Beyond the 12-hour telethon on Boxing Day, eCabs and Fastdrop will also be extending their support for L-Istrina throughout the week, providing crucial logistical assistance in the collection of funds pledged during and after the event.

John Huber, Chairman of the Administrative Board of The Malta Community Chest Fund which organises L-Istrina thanked eCabs and Fastdrop for their commitment.

“It is thanks to the collective efforts of companies like eCabs and FastDrop that we hope to make this year’s edition of L-Istrina another success and I encourage everyone to contribute whatever they can to this initiative,” he said.

L-Istrina, an annual tradition since 1995, serves as a beacon of hope for individuals requiring rare or expensive medical treatment or care.

The funds raised through this telethon empower the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation to make a positive difference in the lives of countless people in the community.

In the press:

The Times of Malta | Lovin Malta

Blue officially launches in Romania, powered by eCabs Technologies platform

Blue officially launches in Romania, powered by eCabs Technologies platform

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Caption: eCabs Technologies CEO Matthew Bezzina (second from right) and Stephanie Portanier Mifsud, eCabs Technologies Cities Product Manager (far left) with the Blue leadership in Bucharest, Romania.

Autonom Drive, the largest mobility operator in the Romanian market has selected the eCabs Technologies platform to launch Blue, a new ride hailing service in Bucharest, Romania.

Powered by the eCabs ride-hailing technology platform, Blue is set to be an important player in shaping the ride hailing landscape in Romania, providing a seamless online ride-hailing solution for riders as well as safe and flexible work for drivers.

Blue is launching its service with a fleet of the latest Tesla Models 3 and Y and is available for download on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Blue officially launches in Romania, powered by eCabs Technologies platform

This is the third territory in which the eCabs ride-hailing platform has been deployed, serving as the backbone for local transport businesses to launch their app-based ride hailing service under their own brand.

The use of eCabs technology in Bucharest, follows the launch of Taxi.gr app in Athens, Greece earlier this month.

With a fleet of over 12,000 vehicles and a workforce exceeding 600, Autonom Drive is a leading corporate in the mobility industry, operating in over 33 cities in Romania and Hungary.

An important player in shaping the ride-hailing landscape

Speaking during the official launch event in Bucharest on Wednesday September 27, eCabs Technologies Founder and Chief Executive Officer Matthew Bezzina said the successful roll-out of the service in Romania with a reputable player such as Autonom, is a strong confirmation of the global grade of eCabs’ technology stack and the capabilities of its people.

The Blue mobility service is set to be an important player in shaping the ride-hailing landscape in Romania, with a more efficient, quality-driven service, and like eCabs’ Malta, operating a unique 24/7 customer care and operations centre.

“We are thrilled to be working with Autonom and its team of professionals on this exciting project in the beautiful capital of Bucharest. The growth potential for Blue is evident, also very much fuelled by Autonom’s serious approach to business. I have no doubt that the strength of our technology platform combined with their focus and corporate stature will deliver exceptional results,” Bezzina said.

“This second launch in a few weeks, comes as we are engaged in discussions with corporate partners in key cities in Europe and beyond, to assist them in venturing into ride hailing business through our unique model, offering 13 years of packaged operational knowledge together with our bespoke multi-channel technology,” he added.

Bezzina added that the vision of taking eCabs Technologies to new heights would not have been possible without the support of the Malta Development Bank.

“The MDB has believed in and supported our internationalisation project from the very start, understanding our relentless drive to take our locally built technology overseas. Each city we launch in is a testament to their trust and support to help finance this growth which has helped make our vision a reality,” Bezzina said.

A safer and reliable service

Blue Managing Partner Andrei Stancu said the transport market in Romania is ripe for change and Blue is poised to deliver a safe, reliable, and affordable solution.

“The ride-hailing market in Romania is typically characterised by low standards of service and old vehicles, fuelled by cheap prices. At Blue, we made the conscious decision to fill and own a gap in the market, offering a safer and reliable round the clock service, using world class tech powering modern, high quality owned and partner fleets” Stancu said.

“After a thorough vendor analysis exercise, we chose to power our brand with the eCabs Technologies platform, and we’ve had an excellent understanding with the eCabs Team from the get-go. We are very optimistic about the future of Blue and the excellent business relationship we have with eCabs Technologies” he added. 

The Romanian Market

Romania’s transportation market presents an exciting opportunity. With a population of over 20 million, and more than 11 million annual tourist arrivals. Whilst Blue has started its journey in the Romanian capital of Bucharest, the plan is for national growth.

And, with a significant portion of Romanian rides still waved down from the curb or booked over the phone, there is major potential for transformation and growth in the ride hailing market. 

Tailor-made tech

Built in one of the world’s densest road networks and most competitive ride-hailing environments, eCabs Technologies provides a unique model in the international white label ride-hailing business – one which combines 13 years of 24/7 intimate operational expertise and a powerful, multi-channel technology platform.

This allows businesses all over the world to use the platform together with eCabs invaluable industry expertise and experience, to successfully launch their brands in any jurisdiction.

In the press:

Times of Malta | Malta Today | Lovin Malta | Who’s Who

eCabs Technologies ride-hailing platform lands in Greece

eCabs Technologies ride-hailing platform lands in Greece

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taxi.gr officially launches in September

eCabs Technologies is set to deploy its ride-hailing platform in Athens, Greece, as it begins taking its industry expertise and operational know-how to new jurisdictions. 

The taxi.gr ride-hailing app, developed at the eCabs headquarters in St Julian’s, Malta, and operated by Intelligent Mobility App S.A. based in Athens, Greece, provides a seamless online ride-hailing solution for riders as well as safe and flexible work for drivers, empowering individuals to move and work on their own terms.

It is the first territory where eCabs Technologies’ ride-hailing platform is being launched with other international jurisdictions also in the pipeline.

eCabs Technologies Founder and Chief Executive Officer Matthew Bezzina said the upcoming launch in Athens in September is the fruition of years of research and development and months of collaboration with its partners in Greece. 

The taxi.gr platform is set to be an important player in shaping the digital transformation of the ride-hailing landscape in Greece.

“We are really proud of what we have created and what the company has accomplished. Growing eCabs from a small three-man start-up in 2010 to a group of companies employing over 400 people and a technology company with industry-leading talent. Now we are excited for eCabs to be flying the Maltese flag in the international ride-hailing industry beyond Malta’s shores,” he said. 

On his part, Manos Koronakos, CEO of Intelligent Mobility App S.A. said, “This is a great opportunity and a perfect time for us to be launching our Taxi.gr ride-hailing platform, in a market that is ripe for digital growth. We are very excited to be working with eCabs Technologies with whom we have forged a great understanding and relationship”. 

Manos Koronakos, CEO of Intelligent Mobility App S.A. with Matthew Bezzina, CEO of eCabs Technologies.

Digitising an offline market

Athens’ transportation market presents an exciting opportunity. 

With a population of well over three million people, and more than six million annual tourist arrivals, the Greek capital has significant potential for growth. 

And, with a significant portion of Greek rides still waved down from the curb or booked over the phone, the ride-hailing options for users remain largely offline. 

Recognising the digital transformation sweeping through the industry globally, eCabs Technologies sought to create a dynamic online solution that caters to the needs of both riders and drivers alike.

“At eCabs Technologies we believe that by digitising the transport sector, we can unlock its potential.  This is what we have been driving towards everyday. Taking our tech to new, exciting jurisdictions like Athens is a big step towards achieving this goal,” Bezzina said. 

Tailor-made tech

The eCabs engineering team in Malta developed a turnkey, white-label tech solution.

This allows businesses all over the world to use the platform together with eCabs industry expertise and experience, to successfully launch their brands in any jurisdiction. 

The tech solution is also developed with bespoke country and city-specific features. 

The taxi.gr platform being launched in Greece for instance, features a new in-app pricing model based on the metering requirements set by Helenic transport regulators. 

eCabs Technologies ride-hailing platform lands in Greece

Bezzina said that all new tailor-made technology components that are developed in Malta for specific countries will further enrich the eCabs Technologies platform.

These features are designed to provide optimal support for international partners through efficient deployment of country-specific features that respect different jurisdictions’ needs and regulations.

Invaluable support

Bezzina said that the objective of taking eCabs Technologies to new heights would not have been possible without the support of the Malta Development Bank:

“The MDB has supported this project from the start, believing in our relentless mission to internationalise and take our locally built technology overseas. We are thankful for their trust and their support to help finance this growth which has helped make our vision a reality.”

To launch taxi.gr in Athens, eCabs Technologies has partnered with a major player in the Greek transportation industry and Bezzina said the eCabs team is excited to be working with them. 

Looking ahead, eCabs Technologies and its Greek partners have ambitious plans to extend the taxi.gr platform across mainland Greece and its islands, providing a convenient and reliable transportation solution to an even broader national audience.

As the partnership evolves, the focus will remain on enhancing the rider experience, providing economic opportunities for drivers, and contributing to the ongoing digital transformation of the transport sector.

eCabs Technologies meanwhile is also engaged in other internationalisation partnership projects and will be releasing further announcements in the coming months. 

“This is an exciting time for us – eCabs is moving from local to international, empowering ride hailing technology beyond its home shores, one partnership at a time,” Bezzina said.

In the Press:

Times of Malta | Lovin Malta | Who’s Who | TVM News | MaltaCEOs | Greek City Times