Company officials say 2,500 drivers have joined the company, and they are collaborating with Taximandu.
We use Google Cloud Translation Services. Google requires we provide the following disclaimer relating to use of this service:
This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, expressed or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement.
Global ride-hailing company Uber has officially entered the Nepali market on Friday. With this, the number of international ride-hailing platforms operating in Nepal has reached four. The company has launched the service in collaboration with Taximandu. The company said that it is testing various models to assess which business model will be effective in Nepal.
According to Uber officials, the company is testing both subscription and commission-based models. In India, Uber operates its service under a subscription model by charging a fixed fee from drivers, where drivers keep the entire fare earned from the trip and the company does not take commission. In Nepal, both models are being tested. Foreign tourists visiting Nepal are expected to be an important part of Uber's strategy.
Uber's international market head for South Asia, Akanksha Singh, said that although the company does not currently have a representative office in Nepal, it plans to establish one by the end of this year. According to her, users coming to Nepal from countries where Uber operates, including India and the US, will be able to use the service through their old Uber app without downloading a separate app.
Singh said there is also great potential for expansion beyond ride-hailing. “Courier, food delivery and intercity travel are important opportunities. All of these opportunities are currently under evaluation,” she said. The company said it has received an encouraging response from drivers. “In less than a week, we have already signed up nearly 2,500 drivers, both two-wheelers and four-wheelers. More than 20,000 drivers have tried to download the app,” Singh said. She said Uber is making significant investments in Nepal and has already started the process of registering local operations.
At the launch event in Kathmandu, Dominic Taylor, Uber’s vice president and regional general manager for Rides in the Asia-Pacific region, said Nepal’s growing tourism industry was one of the key reasons for Uber’s entry.
“We came to Nepal with a long-term commitment and plan to be here for the next decade and beyond,” he said. Ramkrishna Lamichhane, Director General of the Nepal Department of Tourism, welcomed the arrival of Uber and said that easy transportation is essential for tourism development. Chelan J. Bliss, Chief of Consular Affairs at the US Embassy in Nepal, said that US investment is supporting Nepal's digital transformation.
