In response to persistently high inflation, Uber Technologies Inc. is introducing shuttle bus services to and from airports, music halls, and sports stadiums in the United States. This lower-cost option is already available in the company’s other markets.
At a fraction of the cost of its typical UberX rideshare service, Uber will arrange bookings through local fleet suppliers, who hire drivers with commercial licenses. It will also provide shuttle services at some Live Nation Entertainment Inc. music sites in the summer and at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, where Taylor Swift will play later this fall as part of her highly anticipated Eras Tour. These shuttle services are in addition to those provided at airports.
Customers may book and pay for their journeys up to seven days in advance without worrying about rush pricing, and the company noted that the vehicle’s capacity will range from 14 to 55 seats.
According to its environmental, social, and governance reports, Uber historically exclusively provided these fixed-route services for corporate commutes funded by employers in the United States, Brazil, and Mexico, as well as in Egypt and India.
Since the company’s overall gross bookings have been declining, investors are paying more attention to whether it can maintain double-digit growth with new offers. Low-cost options such as the shuttle service might aid in cost containment and boost client satisfaction. When Uber launched its shuttle service in Egypt in 2018, the business observed that users were using Uber Shuttle twice as frequently as they were using UberX.
At its annual product presentation in New York on May 15, Uber unveiled a number of new services, including the option to book cheaper carpool rides in advance and a 50% discount on the Uber One membership program for college students. The shuttle service was one of the new products. Additionally, the business said that Costco Wholesale Corp. will now be a grocery partner on its delivery platform. Up until today, Instacart—a significant rival of Uber Eats—was the sole option for same-day Costco delivery.