Uber greets summer travel with new booking features

Uber on Monday announced a handful of new features in its core app aimed at cashing in on what is expected to be a boom in travel this summer after more than two years of pandemic restrictions.

In a video presentation, the company debuted several new ride-hailing options, including Uber Charter, which allows people to book party buses, passenger vans and coaches to events through the Uber app via a partnership with U.S. Coachways, a bus charter company.

Uber also said it was beginning a pilot program allowing passengers in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Dubai to book premium, fully electric vehicles through a new feature called Uber Comfort Electric. It also said it would make it easier for its drivers of electric vehicles to find charging stations through its app.

Uber Travel, another new feature, allows people to share their vacation itineraries and have Uber book rides in advance to various destinations, such as from the airport to the hotel. It also said it would allow people to use its Uber Eats food delivery service to order food at sports stadiums around the U.S. from their seats.

The new features are part of Uber’s plan to distinguish itself from competitors like Lyft and DoorDash by offering a broad array of options. Jen You, the company’s head of mobility product, said the products contributed to Uber’s vision of becoming a “one-stop shop for door-to-door travel and everyday life.”

“Uber started the pandemic as a company known for getting a ride, but today it’s a different story,” she said. “We are the one global platform that can help you go anywhere you want and get anything you need.”

Uber has also been suggesting it will pull back on its rapid-growth-at-allcosts philosophy. Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber’s chief executive, told employees in a recent note that “some initiatives that require substantial capital will be slowed” as the company braces for a declining market.