Uber chases ‘superapp’ by including planes, trains and rental vehicles

Uber is driving forward with its plan to grow to be a journey “superapp”.

The San Francisco-headquartered agency introduced Wednesday that it’s including trains, buses, planes and automotive leases to its U.Okay. app this yr. The transfer is a part of a pilot that could possibly be expanded to different international locations at a later date if it goes nicely.

Whereas Uber will not present these journey companies itself, it is going to enable customers to guide them by means of its app following software program integrations with platforms that promote tickets.

The tech large, which can take a reduce on every reserving, stated it plans to announce varied companions within the coming months.

Uber stated the integrations will assist to spice up app utilization amongst its customers within the U.Okay, who even have the selection of utilizing apps like Bolt and Free Now. The U.Okay. is one among Uber’s largest markets outdoors the U.S.

Jamie Heywood, Uber’s boss within the U.Okay., stated in an announcement that Uber hopes to grow to be “a one-stop-shop for all of your journey wants.”

“You have got been capable of guide rides, bikes, boat companies and scooters on the Uber app for quite a few years, so including trains and coaches is a pure development,” he stated.

He added: “Later this yr we plan to include flights, and sooner or later lodges, by integrating main companions into the Uber app to create a seamless door-to-door journey expertise.”

Uber additionally plans to let folks purchase Eurostar prepare tickets by means of the app. Eurostar permits vacationers to commute from London to Paris and different cities through the Channel Tunnel.

The announcement comes after a latest win for Uber.

On March 26, Uber secured a 30-month license to proceed working in London, ending a protracted battle with metropolis regulators over whether or not the ride-hailing app was “match and correct.”

However the firm is delayed on its “superapp” plans.

In 2018, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated he wished so as to add extra transport choices to the app.

“It is honest to say that Covid made it a bit bit laborious for us to progress as rapidly as we wish,” Heywood reportedly told The Financial Times.

In premarket buying and selling Wednesday, Uber’s share value was down 1.6% to $34.40 at 6:40 a.m. ET.