UBER FOR BEDFORD: First town to join ‘Local Cab’ pilot since Autocab iGO agreement
Uber has today announced that Bedford is the first town in which it is launching its new product, ‘Local Cab’. The Local Cab product will enable passengers in the town to book a trip with a local taxi company via the Uber app.
Anyone opening the Uber app in Bedford will see the ‘Local Cab’ option which will connect passengers to taxi firm Key Cars.
Despite the Uber app being opened almost 10,000 times per month in Bedford, passengers have not previously been able to book a ride via the Uber app.
To meet this demand, and enable use of the app beyond the 40 towns and cities Uber currently operates in in the UK, Uber is looking to work with local operators across the country.
On 20 May, Uber first released the ‘Local Cab’ option in the city of Plymouth connecting passengers to the taxi firm Need-A-Cab. Since then Local Cab has also launched in tow other cities Oxford and Exeter respectively.
Uber’s app will integrate with Autocab’s iGo network, which the firm says has the potential to connect passengers with 80,000 private hire and taxi drivers in the UK. The Bedford pilot is the fourth city or town in which the two technology companies have worked together since Uber reached an agreement to acquire Autocab in August 2020.
Amna Sadiqa at Key Cars, said: “We’re delighted to be one of the first operators in the UK to pilot ‘Local Cab.’ For anyone in Bedford who already uses the Uber app, it is now easy to book a ride with us. With the boost in passengers, we will also be looking to welcome new drivers to the company.”
Ash Kebriti, UK General Manager, Uber, said: “Every month, we see thousands of people in towns and cities across the UK where we currently don’t operate open the Uber app and try to request a trip. Launching this pilot of Local Cab in Bedford is an exciting first step in connecting these riders with local operators so that eventually the Uber app can be used anywhere in the country.”
