Uber to Launch Uk’s First Local Cab
Earlier today, Uber announced a new pilot of its new product, ‘Local cab’, which will allow passengers to book a ride with a local taxi firm through the regular Uber app. It is initially launching in Plymouth and is said that if successful and generates enough demand, the scheme could be pushed out to other areas in the country.
Anyone opening the Uber app in Plymouth from the launch date, will see the ‘Local cab’ option which connects passengers to the local taxi firm Need-A-Cab. Users will need to download the latest version of the app to ensure that they are able t use the new service.
The Uber app is opened as many as 16,500 times per month in Plymouth and until now, passengers haven’t previously been able to book a journey in a local cab company.
In order to meet this demand, and allow for use of the app beyond all of the 40 towns and cities Uber currently operates in throughout the UK, Uber is now keenly looking to work with local taxi operators across the country and establish new relationships with them.
Dave McIntosh, manager at Need-A-Cab in Plymouth, said: “We are delighted to be the very first local taxi operator in the UK to pilot the amazing new ‘Local cab’ scheme. This will provide the people of Plymouth with another way to book with us via the Uber app – and anyone who is visiting the city, that already takes advantage of the Uber app, will now find it even easier to book a ride with a local operator. With the boost in passenger numbers, as a result we will also be looking to welcome new taxi drivers to the company.”
Ash Kelebriti, UK General Manager for Uber, said: “Each month, we see 1000s of people in towns and cities all across the UK where we don’t operate currently, open the Uber app and attempt to request a trip and sometimes not being able to locate a driver. The launch of this new pilot of Local cab down in Plymouth is a truly exciting first step in connecting these riders with local operators so that one day, the Uber app can be fully used by everyone anywhere in the country.”