Exclusive | Uber pedals into Europe’s bike-sharing market, as Ofo and Mobike pull out after vandalism issues
The move forms part of the US ride-hailing giant’s strategy to establish a super app for all of its users’ urban transport needs
Issues of vandalism and theft have recently forced Chinese bike-sharing pioneers Ofo and Mobike to abandon a number of cities in Europe, despite growing demand.
But these troubles have not deterred US ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies, which is preparing to launch its own bike-sharing operations across Europe in the fourth quarter.
San Francisco-based Uber, which acquired US bicycle-rental service Jump Bikes in April, plans to introduce its bike-sharing service in Berlin before launching in other major cities in the continent, according to Uber vice-president Rachel Holt, head of the firm’s New Mobility unit.
The company plans to eventually compete globally, Holt said in an interview in Hong Kong last Friday. “What I can say is that we are very much interested in exploring opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region,” she said.
China, however, will not be part of the immediate plans, she said. Uber sold its Chinese ride-hailing business to rival Didi Chuxing in 2016, which ended a fierce two-year battle that saw both companies pour billions of dollars into fare subsidies to compete for both drivers and passengers.