Kolettthe new VTC platform due to be launched on 12 Septemberis already the talk of the town. This application will offer a exclusively for women The only passengers welcome will be women in the back of vehicles, all of which will be driven by women. "Heaters. Female users will be able to use this VTC service to travel in Paris and the Ile-de-France region with a woman at the wheel. According to the initial information provided by Kolett's management, fares will be similar to those charged by Uberbut the commission levied by the application will only be 15 %compared with 25 % for the American VTC giant.
Opening up the market to women drivers and reassuring users
This new VTC service has been created with a dual objective. The first is to promote women's access to the VTC sector. Indeed, as the co-founder of the application points out, Valérie Furcajginterviewed by Le Parisien: " 95 % of VTC drivers are men. There is no reason why such an imbalance should persist in this profession, which can just as easily be carried out by women. ". According to its website, guaranteeing " a trip with all security Kolett's second objective is to make women feel "at ease" at the wheel. Women would feel more reassured and confident with a woman at the wheel. In fact, the "Woman at the wheel" application had already been launched a few months earlier, employing only female drivers. However, all users could book their VTC, regardless of gender. With Kolett, men will not be able to use this service unless they are accompanied by a woman.
An exclusivity that is the subject of debate
While many potential customers are already interested in the company's principle, others take offence at the exclusivity of the service on offer. On Kolett's Facebook page, for example, there are comments such as: " As a committed feminist, I cannot condone this way of operating. Why not recruit women to redress the balance? But why refuse a single male passenger? It's totally counter-productive ". Those in charge of the platform are quick to point out that many other alternatives exist for men: " We find it astonishing that a man would absolutely want to order a Kolett partner VTC when there are so many other alternatives available to him. It would even be suspicious, don't you think? "asks a Kolett spokeswoman. So, despite the desire to reassure female travellers by establishing a caring relationship with their driver, the principle of the application raises questions about the need to separate men and women to guarantee a safe journey.
