Uber rolls out cash payments across 4 more cities in India including Chandigarh

Chandigarh, July 21, 2015: Uber the innovative smartphone app that seamlessly connects riders to drivers, has launched cash payments as an option across 4 more cities in India - Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Kochi, just two months after launching a global-first cash test in Hyderabad.

“We know that cash is still the dominant payment option for millions of Indians, especially in smaller cities. The cash experiment in Hyderabad has been extremely successful. At Uber, our goal is to ensure everyone can enjoy the hassle-free convenience of ordering a safe, reliable ride at the push of a button. By giving riders cash payments as an option, we are able to better meet the needs of a rapidly growing and fast-evolving consumer base,” said Bhavik Rathod, GM, Uber Bangalore.

Over the last few months our teams in India and in San Francisco have worked tirelessly to create a seamless cash payment option that is truly Uber. Hyderabad was selected for a global-first experiment in May, followed a few weeks later by our second global city to test cash, Nairobi.

Riders will have access to all the current Uber features and more when it comes to paying for their ride. Riders need to simply choose the CASH payment option, take a ride and pay their driver directly in cash at the end of the trip.

If riders do not see the cash option right away, don’t worry. It will roll out gradually over the next few weeks. Not all riders will see cash right away as we are testing different groups and user preferences.

Last week we also re-started credit-card payments for riders across India, in compliance with RBI guidelines for 2 Factor Authentication. Now, riders can now choose between multiple options including a digital wallet, credit card, or cash when paying for Uber rides.

Since our experiment began, we’ve gained tremendous insight into usage patterns, consumer preferences, friction points, and extensive feedback from drivers and riders who’ve used cash to pay for Uber rides. Uber is encouraging all riders to make use of the service and give feedback, as information gained from riders is what will help us improve. So riders are encouraged to ride and share their feedback with Uber via email or Facebook or Twitter.

Rathod added that, “Uber riders in Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Chandigarh and Hyderabad, already have access to reliable, convenient and safe transportation and this additional payment option opens up the Uber platform to even more people.