NEW DELHI— Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi has called India the company’s “must-win” mobility market, pointing to its scale, rapid growth, and central role in Uber’s long-term global strategy.
Speaking on a podcast with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, Khosrowshahi said India has emerged as Uber’s third-largest mobility market, with more than 1.4 million drivers on its platform. “India is an absolute must-win for Uber, not just tomorrow, but 10 years from now,” he said, describing growth in the country as “spectacular.”
While Ola was once its main rival, Khosrowshahi noted that bike-taxi platform Rapido now presents stiffer competition. “The real test of the business isn’t how fast you can grow if you’re spending. It’s actually how fast you can grow while you’re profitable. And I think Rapido is a long way away from that. But they’ve been innovative,” he remarked.
The Uber CEO placed electrification at the center of India’s mobility future. “If we’re going to lead here long-term, EVs have to be central. Autonomous and electric vehicles will transform mobility, but the innovation curve takes time,” he said, adding that Uber’s strategy is geared toward gradual, sustainable adoption.
He also urged startups to focus narrowly before scaling up. “Before you scale, you’ve got to find product-market fit. That’s the key to sustainable growth and long-term investor value,” he said.
On the travel industry, Khosrowshahi struck a critical note, saying booking platforms have not innovated enough. “The booking experience looks quite similar, and it frustrates me. Travel discovery is going to get much better,” he said. He predicted agent-based AI tools would soon handle trip planning, comparing prices across sites, and personalising recommendations. “You want an agent that’s a combination of explore and exploit — not just showing you what you’ve liked in the past, but surprising you with new choices as well,” he added.
Khosrowshahi described Uber as more than a ridesharing service, likening it to an “operating system for everyday life.” He pointed to difficult decisions that shaped its India strategy, including selling Uber Eats to Zomato in 2020 to concentrate on its core mobility business.
Looking forward, he said autonomous driving is inevitable and will ultimately benefit society, though he acknowledged the transition will take time for technology, infrastructure, Uber, and its driver base to adapt. (Source: IANS)
