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Uber to launch shuttle buses at airports, concert venues
In addition to offering shuttle services at airports, Uber will provide them at certain Live Nation Entertainment Inc. concert venues in the summer.
(Bloomberg) — Uber Technologies Inc. is launching shuttle bus services to and from airports, concert venues and sports stadiums, bringing a lower-cost service already available in its overseas markets to the US as inflation remains stubbornly high.
Uber will work with local fleet providers, who employ commercially licensed drivers, and facilitate the bookings at a fraction of the price of its usual UberX rideshare service, the company said. In addition to offering shuttle services at airports, it will provide them at certain Live Nation Entertainment Inc. concert venues in the summer and at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, where Taylor Swift will perform later this fall as part of her blockbuster Eras Tour.
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Vehicle capacity will range from 14 to 55 seats and customers can book and pay for their rides as many as seven days in advance with no risk of surge pricing, the company added.
Uber previously only offered such fixed-route services in Egypt and India, or for corporate commutes paid for by employers in the US, Brazil and Mexico, according to its environmental social and governance reports.
The company’s investors have become increasingly focused on whether it can sustain double-digit growth with new offerings since its overall gross bookings have been moderating. Lower-priced offerings like the shuttle service could help it rein in costs and increase customer engagement. In Egypt, where Uber debuted its shuttle service in 2018, the company saw customers taking twice the number of monthly trips on Uber Shuttle compared with UberX.
Uber’s shuttle service was among several new offerings the company announced at its annual product event in New York on Wednesday, including the ability to schedule lower-cost carpool rides in advance and a 50% college student discount on the Uber One membership program. The company also said it is adding Costco Wholesale Corp. as a grocery partner on its delivery platform. Until now, same-day Costco delivery was only available via Instacart, a major competitor to Uber Eats.
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