India is one of our most significant markets, according to Prabhjeet Singh, president of Uber India and South Asia. In a PTI exclusive interview, Singh described the Indian mobility market as vast and under-penetrated, pointing to the enormous growth potential that still remains untapped. Although the company has had very strong growth trajectory and diversified products and services, Singh emphasized that the company has only just begun to scratch the surface of market reach in India. 

Singh said that India presents a multi-decadal opportunity for the company because the nation remains one of the least-penetrated markets in ride-hailing globally. Currently, less than 1% of urban trips in India are undertaken through ride-hailing platforms, compared with 3-5% in mature markets around the world. Hence, Uber has significant headroom to grow along as this ecosystem continues to evolve, according to him. 

It is innovation targeted to the specific needs of the local market that has been leading to Uber’s expansion into India. In this context, new services such as Uber Auto and Uber Moto are being introduced in the country, catering to new consumer segments. Singh also mentioned how India is rapidly becoming an important hub of global innovation within the company, where products developed in India were now being exported to other markets. 

In accordance with the development strategy, Uber is now introducing new features that are designed to make the ride experience safer and more convenient for riders and drivers alike. These include SOS integration, helmet selfies, and a women rider preference for female drivers. The company is promoting driver registrations on the e-Shram portal of the Indian government, which aims at extending a social security safety net to gig workers. To make people register, cash incentives will be offered to the first 10,000 drivers by Uber. 

Singh also spoke about the competitive landscape in India, saying that Uber is still competition aware but not competition obsessed, believing market competition spurs innovation. 

. He expressed optimism about India’s role as an engineering hub, with talent in cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad driving cutting-edge solutions for both local and global markets. 

Uber is also committed to supporting the Indian government’s efforts to create a social security framework for gig workers, an initiative Singh believes could set a global benchmark.