Uber launches UberCommute in China

Uber announced the launch of UberCommute, a new carpooling service that will help drivers traveling long distances in the same direction connect with each other to share the cost of the journey. The service has debuted in Chengdu, China but will be expanded worldwide in the near future, said Uber.

“When people can push a button and get a ride in minutes they are less likely to drive themselves — so instead of thirty people using their own cars, you have one car serving them all,” Uber said in a press release.

UberCommute won’t change the way passengers send requests for rides using the app. The service is more useful for drivers.

Drivers have to sign into the app and select their destinations, and the app will locate passengers looking for rides going in the similar direction. Driver can then accept or reject the ride request, and passengers can split the cost of the ride.

Uber said the implementation of UberCommute will help cut costs and congestion during rush hour.

UberCommute is the first major product to be launched by Uber outside the United States. The ride-hailing taxi service has already revealed its interest in tapping into the ever enthusiastic, tech savvy 1.35 billion Chinese market.

This month at an event in Beijing, Travis Kalanick, Chief Executive and founder of Uber Technologies Inc., announced a massive Uber expansion into China. He said the company aims to expand its reach into 100 additional cities.

The company is also rolling out uberPOOL around the world. In China, the service was introduced as People’s Uber+ in cities including Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The new carpooling service will aid in easing traffic congestion by offering affordable shared rides to people.

According to CNET, Uber already operates in 20 Chinese cities. Market leader Didi Kuaidi is operational in more than 300 cities.

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