Uber Is Considering Reintroducing Its Premium Service, “Black,” to the Indian Market

Nitin Konde

Aug 26, 2024 — 2 min read

Uber Is Considering Reintroducing Its Premium Service, “Black,” to the Indian Market

At a time when customers in India are willing to spend more on high-end experiences, ride-hailing platform Uber is reintroducing its flagship product, Uber Black, to the nation.

According to a media report, the service is set to be launched in the coming weeks, initially targeting certain areas in Mumbai.

In 2013, the firm began operating in India with Uber Black, which offered on-demand access to luxury vehicles including Mercedes, BMW, and Audi. It supplanted the high-end vehicles with more affordable options, such as the Toyota Innova, Honda City, and Toyota Corolla. A year after that, the service was discontinued.

Uber’s New Business Strategy

According to various media rports, Uber Black is set to undergo a major overhaul, resulting in a "far more sustainable model" that will offer consumers white glove cab service in larger vehicles compared to traditional commercial sedans. Additionally, reports mentioned that the service will make use of SUVs and MUVs manufactured by Toyota, MG, and other brands.

Uber Black, which will be priced 30–40% higher than the platform’s current top offering, Uber Premier, is expected to have significant uptake by businesses for their business travel expenses. The American ride-hailing giant has been pouring resources into expanding its network of fleet partners. Its biggest vehicle partner, Mumbai-based Everest Fleet, was one of its initial investors in a $20 million round last year.

Motive Behind This Move

The idea that is being considered within the organisation is to develop a mobile application that caters to all different kinds of clients. Consequently, the platform is considering the possibility of releasing items that cater to both extremes of the spectrum, as was emphasised in a media release.

When it comes to the Indian market, the firm is expanding its offerings to include items such as Uber Black in addition to intercity rides and rentals in an effort to achieve larger average ticket sizes and a more profitable dollar.

The premium ride-hailing products that Uber offers in India are expanding at a significantly quicker rate than Uber Go, which is the company's entry-level offering for on-demand taxi services. According to a source in the media, the corporation is thinking about increasing its focus on providing services of a higher quality.

Uber has revealed to a well-known media outlet that they will be relaunching its Uber Black service.

The firm noted in a press release that there is a critical mass of travellers who are prepared to pay a premium for on-demand services that provide them with a high-end experience. As Uber serves to a complete spectrum of customers who have diverse mobility demands, we are reacting to this expanding demand at the same time.