Uber CEO finds India as the hardest market

India has proven to be the "toughest" market for Uber to thrive in, according to CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, because of the country's picky consumers who are hesitant to pay for services. During an interview with Nandan Nilekani, the co-founder of Infosys, Khosrowshahi emphasised the significance of achieving success in the Indian market as a yardstick for success in other international markets.

“Indian customers are so demanding and don’t want to pay for anything (laughs). I am so proud of the team. India is the gateway to the world for us (Uber). It has been the toughest market to succeed in. But if we succeed here, it sets the standards for us to succeed in other markets in the world,” said Khosrowshahi.

Khosrowshahi said that the company will be looking into tapping the digital public infrastructure potential in India through platforms like ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce), UPI, DigiLocker and Aadhaar to enable seamless mobility services in India.

Khosrowshahi also announced that Uber will be exploring more low cost mobility options, including buses in India, which he dubbed as the “single biggest opportunity” for the company in India and other developing countries. He also added that the low cost products will be further bolstered with India’s DPI capabilities in the form of DigiLocker system which allows drivers to join the platform within hours.

Uber also announced an MoU with India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to explore an integration with the network to expand the range of mobility offerings on the Uber app.