Cabify
Spanish mobility technology company connecting passengers and businesses with ride-hailing, taxi, and logistics services.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Cabify is a privately held Spanish mobility technology company founded in Madrid in 2011 by Juan de Antonio. Its platform connects passengers and businesses with professional drivers, licensed taxis, vehicle fleets, and, in selected markets, delivery providers. The company began with a relatively premium, chauffeur-oriented proposition and later broadened its offer through lower-priced vehicle categories, corporate transport, taxi access, accessibility services, and logistics. The business was created partly in response to the difficulty of deploying electric vehicles in European cities. De Antonio initially explored an electric-vehicle business before shifting toward a technology platform for pre-booked vehicle hire. Cabify began operating in Madrid under the name Executive, targeting customers seeking higher-end cars and a more structured alternative to conventional taxis. Early advisers and team members included Tuenti co-founder Adeyemi Ajao, Brendan F. Wallace, CTO Samuel Lown, Michael Koper, and Adrian Merino. By early 2012, the Madrid service reportedly had 20,000 users and had completed almost 3,000 rides in the city. Cabify introduced Cabify Lite in 2013, using mid-range vehicles and a lower price point. Lite became the dominant part of the company’s offer by the end of 2015. The platform subsequently expanded beyond Spain into Latin America, where it opened operations in countries including Mexico, Chile, and Peru and later entered Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Panama, and Colombia. Several of those markets were later exited. The company has also operated in Portugal, Mexico, and Brazil in earlier periods. Its continuing footprint is concentrated in Spain and selected Latin American markets. Cabify’s model combines a mobile application and website with dispatch, route guidance, digital payments, booking management, driver and passenger ratings, and corporate-account tools. Depending on location, customers can select categories such as Executive, Lite, Group, Taxi, Access, or specialized delivery services. Cabify has emphasized business customers, recurring usage, fixed or comparatively predictable pricing, safety procedures, and formal relationships with driver or fleet partners. In contrast with some competitors’ highly promotional approach, the company has described customer retention and repeat bookings as central to its economics. The company attracted early venture funding from investors including Seaya Ventures and Rakuten. A 2016 financing round involving Rakuten valued Cabify at approximately $320 million according to contemporary reports, while a January 2018 financing round reportedly gave it a valuation of about $1.4 billion, making Cabify Spain’s first widely recognized unicorn company. The 2018 financing was accompanied by workforce reductions and management reorganization. Regulatory and labor conditions have been a persistent feature of Cabify’s history. The platform has faced opposition from taxi unions, disputes over the legal status of private-hire vehicles, and changing rules in Spain and Latin America. Its Barcelona operations were temporarily suspended in 2018 and again in early 2019 after protests and new booking-notice requirements, before returning after the company adapted its systems. Safety scrutiny intensified after the 2017 murder of a young passenger in Puebla, Mexico, by a Cabify driver; the company subsequently added an in-app panic button. Cabify has increasingly presented itself as a broader urban-mobility and sustainability company. In 2022 it obtained a €40 million European Investment Bank loan intended to support electric vehicles in Spain. That year it launched Cabify Logistics, a global division focused on parcel storage and transfer rather than passenger transport. In Spain, the logistics operation was described as using an all-electric van fleet dedicated to parcel services. The company therefore spans passenger mobility, corporate transportation, taxi integration, accessible transport, and last-mile logistics while remaining primarily associated with app-based urban rides.
History
Cabify was founded in Madrid in May 2011 by telecommunications engineer Juan de Antonio. His initial interest was in introducing electric vehicles into European cities, but the difficulty of that project led him toward an app-based vehicle-hire platform. The early business, known as Executive, focused on higher-end vehicles and pre-booked rides. Adeyemi Ajao and Brendan F. Wallace became advisers, while Samuel Lown joined as chief technology officer. Cabify gained early traction in Madrid, reporting 20,000 users and nearly 3,000 rides by February 2012. The company’s first significant external financing was a reported $4 million seed round in September 2012. A further $8 million round, led by Seaya Ventures, followed in 2014. Cabify expanded into Latin America roughly a year after its Spanish launch, initially entering Mexico, Chile, and Peru. The Americas became increasingly important to its business, accounting for most of its reported income in the middle of the decade. Cabify later entered Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Panama, and Colombia, while also expanding its presence in Mexico and adding corporate transport in Bogotá. In June 2013, Cabify introduced Cabify Lite, a mid-range alternative to Executive. Its lower price helped move the company from a niche chauffeur service toward a broader mobility platform; by late 2015, Lite represented most of the company’s offering. In 2015 and 2016, Japanese technology and e-commerce company Rakuten became a major investor. A 2016 financing round reportedly raised approximately $120 million and valued Cabify at around $320 million. The company also partnered with Waze in 2016 to improve route selection, arrival times, and aspects of driver and passenger safety. Cabify’s growth took place amid difficult regulatory and competitive conditions. Taxi associations challenged ride-hailing companies in markets including Chile and Spain. In Chile, the company introduced Cabify City after prolonged efforts to establish a legal framework for its service. In Spain, a taxi-driver strike in Barcelona forced a temporary suspension in 2018. A Catalan rule requiring a 15-minute notice before booking a private-hire vehicle led to another suspension in January 2019; Cabify returned in March after modifying its technical systems. The company also experienced serious safety criticism. In March 2017, a 19-year-old woman was murdered in Puebla by a Cabify driver. The incident raised questions about the effectiveness of driver vetting and platform safety controls despite the company’s stated use of background, psychometric, alcohol, drug, and driving-related checks. Cabify subsequently installed a panic button in its application. Cabify raised a further reported $160 million in January 2018 at a valuation of approximately $1.4 billion. The financing was accompanied by a workforce reduction of about 10 percent and senior-management reorganization. In later years the company emphasized sustainability and a broader definition of mobility. In 2022, the European Investment Bank provided a reported €40 million loan to help finance electric vehicles in Spain. Cabify also launched Cabify Logistics, extending its technology and operating model to parcel storage and delivery. Its continuing activities are centered on Spain and selected Latin American countries, although it has previously operated in Portugal, Mexico, and Brazil.
- 2022
Electric-vehicle financing and logistics expansion
[1]Cabify receives reported EIB financing for electric vehicles and launches Cabify Logistics.
- 2018
Cabify reaches unicorn valuation
[1]A reported $160 million financing round values the company at approximately $1.4 billion.
- 2017
Safety controls are strengthened
[1]Following the Puebla murder case, Cabify adds a panic-button function to its application.
- 2016
Rakuten-backed international expansion
[1]Rakuten participates in a major financing round as Cabify expands across Latin America and partners with Waze.
- 2014
Seaya Ventures leads additional financing
[1]Cabify raises a reported $8 million round led by Seaya Ventures.
- 2013
Cabify Lite launches
[1]The company introduces its lower-priced mid-range vehicle category.
- 2012
First reported seed financing
[1]Cabify raises a reported $4 million seed round and reaches early traction in Madrid.
- 2011
Cabify is founded in Madrid
[1]Juan de Antonio establishes Cabify as a technology-enabled vehicle-hire business, initially operating under the Executive name.
Products and positioning
A structured, safety-conscious and relatively premium mobility platform emphasizing professional transport providers, corporate accounts, predictable pricing, and increasingly sustainable urban transportation.
Mobility platform · 2011
Cabify app
Cabify’s mobile and web platform lets users request rides, view vehicle locations, receive route and booking information, pay digitally, and rate trips and drivers. It serves both individual passengers and corporate accounts. Available categories and payment methods vary by market.
Private-hire transport · 2011
Cabify Executive
The original Cabify service used higher-end vehicles and targeted customers seeking a more formal, pre-booked alternative to conventional taxis. It established the company’s early premium positioning and remains one of the vehicle categories associated with the platform where available.
Private-hire transport · 2013
Cabify Lite
Introduced in 2013, Lite uses mid-range vehicles and offers a more accessible price point than Executive. It became the majority of Cabify’s offering by the end of 2015 and helped the company move beyond a narrowly premium customer segment.
Private-hire transport
Cabify Group
Group is a larger-capacity vehicle option designed for parties of up to six passengers. Its availability depends on the city and local operating model.
Taxi booking
Cabify Taxi
Cabify Taxi connects users with local licensed taxis through the Cabify application. It extends the platform beyond private-hire vehicles and allows the company to integrate with established taxi supply in markets such as Spain.
Accessible transport
Cabify Access
Cabify Access is an accessible transport option intended for passengers with disabilities or mobility requirements. The service has been available in selected markets including Spain, Chile, and Peru, with availability and vehicle provision dependent on local conditions.
Logistics and delivery · 2022
Cabify Logistics
Launched in 2022, Cabify Logistics applies the company’s technology and operational capabilities to package storage and transfer rather than passenger journeys. In Spain, the division was described as using electric vans dedicated to parcel services.
Controversies
2017
Puebla passenger murder
A 19-year-old passenger in Puebla, Mexico, was murdered by a Cabify driver. The case generated scrutiny of driver screening, platform accountability, and passenger-safety procedures. Cabify later added an in-app panic button.
2017
Colombian transport-law fine
Colombia’s Superintendence of Ports and Transport fined Cabify approximately 516 million Colombian pesos, alleging that the platform facilitated personal transport services using vehicles not authorized for the applicable service category.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Mexico City demand-response initiative
Mexico
During restrictions associated with Mexico City’s Hoy No Circula program, Cabify reported a substantial increase in demand, reduced fares by 25 percent, and donated part of the resulting revenue to UNICEF.
Outcome. The initiative supported short-term demand and positioned Cabify as an alternative during transport restrictions.
Brand decisions
2022
Invest in electric mobilityStrategyBackground
Cabify sought to reduce emissions and align its Spanish operations with European decarbonization objectives.
Action taken
The company secured reported EIB financing for the purchase of electric vehicles.
Aftermath
The financing supported the company’s stated shift toward lower-emission transport in Spain.
European Investment Bank loan. €40 million (May 2022)
2022
Launch Cabify LogisticsProduct launchBackground
Cabify aimed to apply its urban-mobility infrastructure to the movement of objects as well as people.
Action taken
The company created a logistics division for package storage and transfers.
Aftermath
In Spain, the division used electric vans dedicated to parcel services.
2019
Adapt Barcelona operations to local booking rulesStrategyBackground
Catalonia introduced a requirement that private-hire vehicles be booked 15 minutes in advance.
Action taken
Cabify temporarily suspended Barcelona operations and developed a system architecture intended to comply with the regional rule.
Aftermath
Service resumed in Barcelona in March 2019.
2016
Expand across Latin AmericaStrategyBackground
Cabify had established operations in several Latin American markets and was seeking broader scale.
Action taken
The company expanded or announced expansion in Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Panama, Colombia, and additional Mexican and Chilean cities.
Aftermath
The Americas became a major source of Cabify’s reported income, although some markets were later exited.
2013
Introduce Cabify LiteProduct launchBackground
The original Executive model focused on a relatively narrow, higher-end customer base.
Action taken
Cabify launched a mid-range vehicle category with a lower price point.
Aftermath
Lite became the dominant part of the company’s offering by the end of 2015.
Recent events
- 2022
European Investment Bank supports Cabify electric fleet[1]
Other
Cabify secured a reported €40 million EIB loan to purchase electric vehicles for use in Spain.
- 2022
Cabify launches Cabify Logistics[1]
Product launch
The company introduced a logistics division for package storage and transfers, including an all-electric dedicated van fleet in Spain.
- 2019
Cabify suspends and later restores Barcelona service[1]
Regulation
Cabify suspended operations in Barcelona after Catalonia introduced a 15-minute advance-booking requirement and resumed service after developing a compliant local system.
- 2018
Cabify announces major financing and restructuring[1]
Leadership change · Other
Cabify raised a reported $160 million at a valuation of approximately $1.4 billion, while also reducing its workforce and reorganizing senior management.
- 2016
Rakuten backs Cabify expansion[1]
M&A
Rakuten participated in a financing round that brought Cabify approximately $120 million and supported further Latin American expansion.
- 2013
Cabify launches Cabify Lite[1]
Product launch
The company introduced a lower-priced service using mid-range vehicles, broadening its customer proposition beyond executive transport.
- 2012
Cabify raises seed financing[1]
Other
Cabify raised a reported $4 million seed round from Black Vine, Emerge, angel investors and Latin American backers.
Sources3 sources
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