As we bid farewell to 2023, we reflect on the transformative journey of Uber in India, encapsulated in our annual roundup. This comprehensive analysis unveils intriguing trends shaping the nation’s mobility landscape, delving into the cities with the highest ride frequencies, total kilometers traversed, intercity travel preferences, late-night travel hotspots, and evolving rider choices. Fueled by data-driven insights, the report underscores the escalating relevance of ride-sharing in India and endeavors to foster sustainable urban environments.
The year 2023 witnessed Indians shattering travel records, ushering in new rider behaviors that reshaped the urban mobility paradigm. Uber emerged as the steadfast travel companion amidst these changes, with its diverse product categories resonating with riders. The cumulative distance covered in Uber trips during the year reached a staggering 6.8 billion kilometers, equivalent to circumnavigating India’s 6.37-million-kilometer road network over a thousand times or nearly thrice daily.
Uber Auto and Uber Go retained their popularity among riders nationwide, with the former outpacing its four-wheeled counterpart. This shift signifies the growing preference among Indians for app-based bookings of Auto-rickshaws, traditionally hailed on the streets.
Noteworthy cities dominating Uber trips in 2023 include Delhi-NCR, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, and Kolkata. While Delhi-NCR claimed the overall highest trip count, Mumbai surpassed the national capital in late-night bookings, and Kolkata stood out for its penchant for weekend travel. Delhi-NCR residents predominantly relied on Uber for their work commutes, leading in office-hour trip volumes.
Highlights from the ‘How India Ubered in 2023’ report include:
– Peak Uber trip times: 6 PM to 7 PM
– Busiest day for Uber bookings: Saturday
– December registered the highest monthly ride count, with Durga Puja and the Christmas weekend as peak travel periods.
– Early morning hours, 4 AM to 5 AM, marked the highest Uber Reserve bookings to airports.
– For Uber Rentals with multiple stops, the 2-hour, 20-kilometer package was the popular choice.
– Uber Bus attracted 74,000 first-time users, showcasing the growing interest in app-based mass transit services.
– Mumbai’s favored weekend getaway, Lonavala, led as the most frequented tourist destination through Uber Intercity.
– Indians covered 64 million kilometers in electric vehicles, contributing to environmental sustainability.
The top six cities in India with the highest Uber rides in 2023 were Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, and Kolkata. Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Delhi-NCR, Lucknow, and Mysore ranked as the fastest cities based on average speeds.
Additionally, the report highlighted the top five intercity routes, including Mumbai–Pune, Delhi–Meerut, Lucknow–Kanpur, Mumbai–Lonavala, and Mumbai–Nashik. The top five longest intercity trips by kilometers traveled featured routes like Jaipur–Delhi Airport–Fatehpur Sikri–Chomu–Bangaon and Manesar–Dungargarh–Hisar–Manesar.
Throughout 2023, Uber introduced innovative products such as Uber Green, its flagship sustainability option, and round trips on Uber Intercity, all well-received by riders. The Uber Reserve journey planning product underwent enhancements, allowing advanced bookings up to 90 days.
Celebrating a decade in more than 125 cities, Uber has become synonymous with reliable transportation, disbursing over Rs 500 billion in earnings to three million drivers and facilitating seamless travel for millions of Indians with a simple tap of a button. As the journey continues, Uber remains committed to shaping the future of mobility in India.
