Nadine Freischlad · · 2 min readUber launches in Cambodia and starts parcel delivery in Indonesia’s second largest city
Photo credit: Uber.
Uber today launched its ride-hailing service in Cambodia and started a new feature in Indonesia’s second-largest city Surabaya: UberDeliver, an on-demand courier service. The deliveries will be executed by Uber’s two-wheel motorbike fleet – the same drivers who can also be booked for personal transportation under the name UberMotor.
None of this is really unique – the US ride-hailing firm’s regional competitor Grab also just entered Cambodia. Both Grab and local Indonesian ride-hailing app Go-Jek already offer instant couriers. In Indonesia, Go-Jek has this in many cities, and Grab in the Greater Jakarta area.
Not slowing down
It’s notable that Uber is playing catch-up with Grab and Go-Jek in Southeast Asia and continues to drive expansion to new markets and launch new products here, despite losing ground in terms of app downloads and other metrics. Uber also entered Myanmar a few months ago, shortly after Grab.
At first glance, it counters the theory that Uber might withdraw from the region altogether to cut losses and get in shape for an IPO.
Besides Surabaya, UberDeliver only exists in in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam, a spokesperson told Tech in Asia. It’s not ruling out adding it in other cities later.
In Cambodia, Uber is starting first with its lower-end UberX service, which offers both private cars and taxis in the capital Phnom Penh.
Editing by Malavika Velayanikal and Michael Tegos
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