TechCrunch has exclusively learned and confirmed that Uber is launching a simultaneous ride feature in India, which will allow users to book up to three trips on behalf of all of their contacts.
The simultaneous ride feature is the latest example of Uber developing a product that will attract more customers, including those who don’t have an app or smartphone. In India, Uber allows simultaneous ride users to pay drivers directly with cash or through the app.
Uber quietly launched simultaneous rides last year in several global markets, including the U.S. An Uber spokesperson confirmed that the new feature is now available in India and will be rolled out in phases. The spokesperson declined to confirm exact details of the cities in which it is currently available.
“We know you may need to book a ride for a loved one at the same time while you’re on Uber, which is why we launched simultaneous rides globally late last year. This allows riders to book and track up to three simultaneous rides,” an Uber spokesperson said in a statement shared with TechCrunch.
When you book a ride for a guest, you can share the details of the trip via WhatsApp or text message. The message includes the driver’s full name, taxi model and registration number, Uber contact number to contact the driver, a link to track the ride, and a 4-digit PIN to start the ride. This way, your guest doesn’t have to use the Uber app.
The new feature could help Uber expand its market reach. Before the update, Uber only allowed users to book one ride at a time, and users had to request another ride after their current trip ended. Uber also gets ahead of its competitors, who were already giving customers the ability to book simultaneous rides.
Ola, Uber’s Indian rival with SoftBank, Warburg Pincus and DST Global as major investors, has allowed two simultaneous rides for some time. However, the experience Ola offers is limited because users cannot make two bookings at the same time using a single online payment method. Users must choose two different online payment methods or pay for the simultaneous rides in cash.
