No Uber, no problem: Brazil app drives into Sao Paulo’s no-go zones

Brazilian Alvimar da Silva (R), creator of the JaUbra (Uber of slum) private transportation service, poses next to his daughter Aline Landim in Brasilandia, northern outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil, on February 27, 2019. - The JaUbra application was created for a slum where Uber does not cover. (Photo by Miguel SCHINCARIOL / AFP)

SAO PAOLO: When Alvimar da Silva realised Uber did not reach some of the more dangerous, far-flung areas of Brazil’s biggest city Sao Paulo, he saw an opportunity: if the popular ride-sharing service did not go there, he would. 

After six months of driving for the US application in the gridlocked city, da Silva launched his own rival service JaUbra in the sprawling northern district of Brasilandia in 2017.