Uber Acquires Autocab, Meet the Team Fueling the Ride-Hailing Giant’s Foreign Growth

Uber has announced that it will acquire Autocab, a UK technology company that provides booking and dispatch software to taxi operators. Autocab also connects operators with trips through its iGo marketplace.

Uber says Autocab will remain independent with its own board and will be focused exclusively on providing technology to the taxi and private hire industry around the world.

In a press release, Autocab CEO Safa Alkateb said, “Working with Uber we can scale up our ambitions, providing hundreds of thousands of additional trips for our customers, and help cement the place of licenced operators in their local community.”

Uber states that with iGo, the ride-hailing giant will be able to connect its riders with local operators. The acquisition effectively expands Uber’s operations to brand new areas, as it won’t be integrating iGo in markets where it already offers a service, according to Bloomberg. The company also said it will also providing drivers with additional revenue opportunities related to its platform for other services, such as on-demand delivery.

The Autocab purchase is another strategy by Uber to break into new markets and expand its the userbase of its portfolio of apps and services. Uber’s ever-expanding reach is fueled by a key cadre of employees that are focused on bringing on-demand mobility and delivery solutions to new markets.

Pradeep Parameswaran, the company’s Regional General Manager for APAC oversees Uber’s ride-hailing business in the Asia-Pacific region. He will likely play a large role in the company’s growth strategy and push to be profitable by the end of 2021, as the company looks to Asia for growth. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has called Uber’s expansion in Japan and South Korea near-term priorities and the company is creating a new APAC headquarters, reportedly in Hong Kong.

George Gordon is the head of Uber’s operations in Latin America, the company’s fastest-growing international region. However, Latin America is a vulnerable area of Uber’s operations, as it’s under heavy pressure from Chinese rival Didi Chuxing, which has recently made key acquisitions and expansions in the area. Gordon’s role will be key as Uber works to improve its penetration and market share in a region where some local governments are fighting to ban its services.

Liz Meyerdirk is the Senior Director and Global Head of Business Development for Uber Eats. In this role, she is responsible for formulating and implementing strategic partnerships with global brands, like McDonald's and Starbucks. Along with Raj Beri, the Global Head of Uber Eats, Grocery, and Strategic Initiatives, Meyerdirk has helped the company forge deals to help expand the appeal of its services in new markets and reinforce its position in existing areas.

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