Namma Yatri, an Indian Brand, Is Eyeing the American Market

Nitin Konde, Apoorva Bajj

Aug 27, 2024 — 2 min read

Namma Yatri, an Indian Brand, Is Eyeing the American Market

According to reports, the ride-hailing app Namma Yatri, based in Bengaluru, is looking into entering the American market.

An article in a well-known media outlet states that the firm is negotiating with various US unions in an effort to distinguish itself from industry heavyweights like Lyft and Uber.

In addition, the article stated that the company's entry into the US market will be backed by Juspay, which separated Namma Yatri into its own entity in April of this year.

Juspay has recently stated its intentions to expand into international markets, including the United States, and received a payment aggregator license from the Reserve Bank of India.

Obstacles in the Western Market

Because the taxi industry is a very low-margin business, it is a free market in the USA, and anyone who has a superior product can enter it. The question is, however, whether they will be able to maintain it because of the circumstances. Not only that, but Uber and Lyft are the two companies that dominate the market in the United States. When compared to the situation in India, the drivers in the United States are in the same position.

It is impossible for businesses to enter a new market without first lowering their prices, and if the prices are lowered, the driver will not obtain any profit from the transaction. In order to attract investors, businesses that invest a significant amount of capital in a market must also guarantee a certain rate of return on their investment. Namma Yatri will face competition from companies such as Uber, Didi, Grab, and Lyft if it decides to enter the market in the United States. On the other hand, at a time when there is some unhappiness among drivers and customers, the Indian company will be able to gain an advantage and take off thanks to the relationship with unions.

The Indian Market Continues to Be the Primary Focus at Present

Namma Yatri's primary focus continues to be on increasing its reach within India, even if discussions and negotiations on expansion in the United States are still underway.

Karnataka (Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Tumakuru), Kerala (Kochi), West Bengal (Kolkata, Asansol-Durgapur, and Siliguri), Telangana (Hyderabad), Tamil Nadu (Chennai), and Delhi are the states in which it is currently actively operating.

Blume Ventures and Antler led the pre-Series A funding round, which raised $11 million (approximately INR 91 crore) a month ago. Sundar Pichai-led tech behemoth Google and other investors also participated. This development comes right one month after the company acquired the aforementioned funding, indicating Namma Yatri's future growth plans.