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Bolt Technology OU is negotiating the acquisition of VotreChauffeur.ma, a Moroccan ride-hailing service founded by prominent local entrepreneurs Ismael Belkhayat and Jawad Ziyat, according to people familiar with the matter.
The potential transaction would give Estonia-based Bolt a stronger foothold in North Africa and sharpen its challenge to Uber Technologies Inc., which has struggled to cement dominance in the region’s fragmented mobility market.
Belkhayat and Ziyat, among Morocco’s most visible startup leaders, have helped shape the country’s emerging tech economy. Belkhayat is also the founder of Chari.ma, an e-commerce and fintech app for traditional retailers in French-Speaking Africa while Ziyat is a former football club executive and investor with interests in transport and hospitality.
Their joint venture, VotreChauffeur.ma — also known as VTC.ma — was launched as a local answer to global ride-hailing apps, focusing on premium and regulated chauffeur services in major cities including Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakesh.
Talks between the two sides are ongoing, and no binding agreement has been signed, the people said, asking not to be named because the discussions are private. Both Bolt and VotreChauffeur.ma declined to comment.
The move comes as competition in North Africa’s transport sector heats up amid shifting regulations and a rising demand for app-based services. Bolt’s push into Morocco reflects a broader strategy to consolidate its position in African markets where it already operates, from Nigeria to Kenya.
Market analysts say a deal could trigger sharper price competition and faster innovation. “Bolt’s entry into Morocco through acquisition would be a wake-up call for incumbents,” said one regional venture investor. “It would also validate the vision of local founders who built scalable mobility solutions despite regulatory and funding challenges.”
If completed, the acquisition would rank among the most notable exits for Moroccan tech entrepreneurs, highlighting the country’s progress as a budding startup hub. For Belkhayat and Ziyat, it could also free up resources to pursue other ventures in fintech and digital infrastructure — sectors they see as the next growth frontier in Africa’s tech ecosystem.
