Uber Black first launched in India in 2013
Incidentally, Uber rolled out its India operations in 2013 with Uber Black. In 2013, the company's Uber Black service offered C-suite cars such as Mercedes, BMW and Audi on demand. Uber later replaced the luxury cars with the likes of Toyota Innova, Honda City and Toyota Corolla. Uber shut down Uber Black in India a year later in 2014. The service is available in many other parts of the world, including Uber's home country the US.
How 'Uber Black India' may work in 2024
According to the report, the revamped version of Uber Black will be a “far more sustainable model” where customers will be provided with a white glove cab service in bigger cars than currently available commercial sedans. Sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and multi-utility vehicles (MUVs) of Toyota, MG and others will be used for the service, the report adds, quoting sources.
Uber Black price in India
Uber Black will be priced 30-40% higher than Uber Premier. Uber is said to be eyeing the service to have “huge traction with corporate travel use cases”. “The service is being launched through Uber’s fleet partners,” the person said.
Uber Black service will be offered through Uber's fleet partners, which the company has been investing in. Last year, Uber led a USD 20 million funding round in Mumbai-based Everest Fleet.
Uber is also planning to introduce Uber Black to complement its existing intercity rides and rental services. The company believes that premium ride-hailing services have greater growth potential than its entry-level offerings, and is doubling down on this segment.
Goes with premiumisation trend
Premiumisation has become a significant trend in India across various industries, including fashion, beauty, electronics, vehicles, and travel, especially post-Covid-19. In the automotive sector, vehicles priced over INR 10 lakh accounted for nearly half of all sales in the first half of 2024. Similarly, the share of smartphones costing over INR 30,000 reached its highest level in the same period.
As consumers seek convenience and social status, brands are investing more in premium experiences. Even budget airlines like IndiGo have announced plans to offer business class services. In the ride-hailing industry, a segment of customers is willing to pay more for premium services like Uber Black, which offer faster availability, comfort, and well-trained drivers.
With the reliability and quality of service declining for basic ride-hailing options, premium cab operators like BluSmart and Shoffr have seen opportunities to enter the market.
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