Uber coming to town: businesses

INTERNATIONAL rideshare company Uber has plans to come to Wanaka.

Several local hospitality businesses were approached by the firm recently although a start date for its operation in the town is unknown.

Existing taxi services were surprised by Uber’s decision to come to the area as demand was already low.

Wana Taxi owner Mahmoud Khalil Jodeh had noticed a shift in the past two years.

‘‘Before Covid we had four cars running. Now we only have two, occasionally we’ll have four on the weekends,’’ he said.

Yello owner Ramash Swamy said the past two years had been challenging, but he had used that time to be a community service.

‘‘It’s about putting good things out into the community. If you want to see positive impact or change, it needs to be communityfocused.’’

Mr Swamy credited Yello’s diversified business model for the resources to continue providing the taxi service despite fluctuating customer demands.

Uber employs independent drivers and connects them with consumers looking for rides on its app. It also runs a food delivery service, Uber Eats.

Uber began operating in Queenstown in 2018, and first launched in Auckland in 2014.

It did not respond to questions about an expected start date in Wanaka.