Uber launched a new carpooling service called UberCommute, allowing drivers to pick up other passengers who would share the cost of the commute.
The new UberCommute service will initially roll out in Chengdu, China, which is Uber's biggest single market. The company says this is the first time it is launching a new global product outside of the U.S., but notes that it plans to launch UberCommute in multiple cities worldwide in the future.
How It Works
For passengers, UberCommute will not make much of a difference compared to requesting a regular Uber ride. For drivers, however, the new service will prove more useful. UberCommute allows drivers to sign into the app, enter their destination and find matches with travelers looking for rides in the same direction. The app will inform the driver how much they would make by picking up the passenger, as they would split the cost of the commute. Uber calls its new service "carpooling at the press of a button."
Uber further highlights that most cities around the world often have huge traffic, especially during rush hours, but carpooling can help reduce traffic jams and allow for better transportation.
In a new press release, Uber points out that the option to get a ride in minutes with the simple push of a button should make it easier and more convenient for more people to get a ride rather than drive themselves. In turn, rather than having 30 people drive themselves with their own cars, UberCommute can enable one car to serve all of those commuters.
At the same time, Uber points out that numerous people use Uber in many cities worldwide and oftentimes they request the exact same ride, without knowing that others are making the same commute at the same time.
"With services like uberCOMMUTE and uberPOOL we're making it possible for them to share the ride," Uber explains.
Simply put, Uber wants to enable more people to travel in fewer cars, reducing traffic congestion as well as commute costs and duplicate rides.
Considering that Uber does more business in Chengdu than in any other city in the world, it makes sense for the company to choose Chengdu as the first city to pilot its new UberCommute carpooling service. The company offers no information on when it plans to expand the service to more cities worldwide, but it shouldn't take too long.
