Yahoo Finance Uber launches car rental service in the UK
Uber has launched a car rental service in the UK in a bid to push forward with its goal of ending the need for private car ownership
The transport app has partnered with Dublin-based car rental agency CarTrawler to launch the new service to hundreds of thousands of users across the UK following launches in France and Australia earlier this year.
To try the new service, Uber customers must update the app to the latest version to find a new “Rent” mode. The service will open up a marketplace of cars that will allow users to browse and choose a car to rent, which is then collected from a pickup location.
Jamie Heywood, the boss of Uber’s European division, said the company wants to help “get the country moving safely again” as travel restrictions are eased and people venture out.
“Whether it’s public transport, bike and car rentals, car rides or even a boat, users can now make almost any journey on the app, pushing us further towards our goal of ending the need for private car ownership,” he said.
Transport apps like Uber have long pushed the idea that car ownership is becoming increasingly unaffordable for people, and have looked to move towards a subscription model for car usage.
It is just the latest new addition to Uber's app, which it has increasingly billed as a multi-purpose app for everyday life. As well as Uber Eats, it has also added public transport information, electric scooter hiring and, in London, Thames ferry bookings.
The introduction of the rental service comes as Britain has seen an increase in travel in recent weeks after months of lockdown restrictions saw movement across the country plummet.
Demand for public transport has struggled to pick up after falling off a cliff in March when lockdown measures were first introduced. Transport for London has been left with a more than £6bn shortfall in funding as a result of reduced use of the tube and buses.
Uber has sought ways of offering safer modes of travel for people looking to get back out again for commutes to and from work or other journeys, including a disinfection service for cars and rolling out systems to verify if drivers are wearing masks.
