UBER’S EDINBURGH LOCAL CAB: Capital Cars to offer cars on Uber app to help cover demand

Uber has today announced the launch of its Local Cab product in Edinburgh, which gives passengers the option to book trips with a local operator via the Uber app.

Uber, which first launched in Edinburgh in 2015, is now working with locally licensed operators to meet the high level of demand in the city.

This follows a series of launches for Local Cab in towns across the country – including Dumfries and Stranraer.

In addition to the regular Uber-operated options that include UberX, Exec, Comfort, and Lux, passengers in Edinburgh will now be able to use Local Cab to connect with local taxi firm Capital Cars.

The Local Cab option will appear in a user’s trips menu alongside the regular Uber-operated options. In Edinburgh, Local Cab requests will be passed to Capital Cars to fulfil the trip, and all subsequent support will be provided by Capital Cars.

Stephen Rose, Director at Capital Cars, said: “We look forward to making Local Cab available to the people of Edinburgh. We feel that now, more than ever, a product like Local Cab is needed – with demand for taxis continuing to rise and passengers in need of more options.”

Ash Kebriti, UK General Manager at Uber, said: “Edinburgh will be the first city where riders can access both UberX and Local Cab in the same app. We think it will be a win-win for both riders and drivers, giving passengers more choice and providing more earnings opportunities for drivers as they meet the high levels of demand in the city. We’re looking forward to launching Local Cab in more UK towns and cities soon.”

As part of the Local Cab offering, Uber’s app will integrate with Autocab’s iGo network, which has the potential to connect passengers with 80,000 private hire and taxi drivers in the UK.

Elsewhere in the UK, Uber has also announced the launch of Local Cab in Blackburn and Norwich.

Anyone opening the Uber app in Blackburn will now be presented with the option that connects them with local taxi firm City Taxi, whilst users in Norwich will be connected to respective taxi firm Canary Express Taxis.

Kebriti added: “The Local Cab pilot has proved to be a success for local operators, riders and local economies. Local operators have seen increased demand for trips and are now actively recruiting new drivers, which is having a positive impact on the local economy.”