Uber enters intercity bus ticketing segment, starting with India
What's the story
Uber has expanded its services to include intercity bus ticketing in India. The new feature, which is the first of its kind globally for the ride-hailing giant, has been launched in partnership with Ixigo's AbhiBus. The move is part of Uber's strategy to broaden its intercity portfolio and provide a trusted platform for long-distance travel.
Strategic importance
India as an innovation hub for Uber
Praveen Neppalli Naga, Uber's Chief Technology Officer, emphasized the strategic importance of India as an innovation hub for the company. He said that teams in India are developing technologies that will drive Uber's next phase of growth worldwide. The launch of intercity bus ticketing is a testament to how products developed in India are shaping Uber's global roadmap and expanding choice for riders through a reliable platform.
User benefits
Bus service and introductory offer
The new intercity bus service on Uber's app allows riders to plan and book long-distance journeys with the same reliability they expect from other Uber services. To celebrate the launch, Uber is offering a 25% discount (up to ₹200) on the first ride and 10% off (up to ₹100) on three subsequent rides. This is part of an introductory offer aimed at encouraging users to try out this new mode of travel.
Market opportunity
Reimagining intercity travel in India
Prabhjeet Singh, President of Uber India and South Asia, spoke about the potential of intercity travel in India. He said that with an upgraded highway network and better road connectivity across the country, long-distance road travel has become more accessible than ever before. This presents a huge opportunity to reimagine how people plan and experience intercity journeys.
Partnership details
Collaboration with AbhiBus
Rohit Sharma, the Chief Operating Officer of AbhiBus, spoke about the collaboration with Uber. He said that the partnership combines AbhiBus's strong supply network and deep expertise in bus ticketing with Uber's scale and platform experience trusted by millions of Indians for their everyday mobility needs. This strategic alliance is expected to enhance the intercity travel experience on the Uber app.