UBER ANNOUNCES FEATURES AHEAD OF SUMMER TRAVEL BOOM
App users can book buses, fully electric cars and more
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 Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Dubai to book premium, fully electric vehicles like Teslas 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 or to restaurants and tourist
spots.
It also said it would allow people to use its Uber Eats food delivery service to order food at sports stadiums around the United States from their seats and skip the lines to pick it up.
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 in a statement that 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-all-costs philosophy. Company executives have indicated the company will be more selective about how it chooses to spend its money, and 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 and expectations of profitability from investors.