Uber launches parking service following SpotHero acquisition, with an eye on robotaxis

Uber on Monday said it is launching a new service that lets customers reserve and pay for parking in major U.S. cities, about nine months after the ride-hailing company acquired parking app SpotHero.

The acquisition, announced back in February, gives Uber access to a network of 13,000 garages, lots and valet services across more than 400 cities, the company said. And while Uber’s initial plans will focus on human drivers, the company also plans to leverage these parking spots to help the dozens of autonomous vehicle companies it has partnered with.

Uber said the parking spots could be used as staging and waiting locations for autonomous vehicles to help reduce congestion and deadheading, which refers to the miles a vehicle travels without a paying passenger or cargo on board.

For now, the company plans to focus on commuters driving their own vehicles. Uber said it will initially launch in 15 U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York City, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, DC.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi indicated earlier this month that the company wants the app to be more relevant to commuters.

“Commute is one of our largest categories,” he said during Uber’s third-quarter earnings call. “And to be able to offer commuters an Uber to work, a pass to avoid surge, and parking if they want it when they want to drive is a great example of us building out our inventory of services to the commuter who is a top customer for us.”

The parking service is the latest in a series of efforts at Uber to build an ecosystem of products that keep customers engaged with its app for everything from hailing a ride and ordering food and groceries, to packing delivery, renting cars, booking hotels, and connecting users with public transit and robotaxis.

Uber’s membership program, called Uber One, is a key part of that strategy. Uber One attracts subscribers by offering rewards and credits, perks that have helped the program grow to more than 55 million members as of September 30. For instance, Uber is offering members a chance to earn 10% back in credits on eligible parking reservations. Those credits can later be used for rides and Uber Eats orders.

Uber Parking can be accessed directly on the app’s homescreen. Users can enter their destination, select the date and time they need parking, and then review options on an interactive map. Users can filter the results to find self-parking, valet, garages, or surface lots. All pricing is shown upfront.

Once a user has found a parking spot, they can book after entering details about their vehicle, and use the payment method in their Uber wallet. Once they arrive at the parking spot, users will either scan a unique QR code or gain entry through license plate recognition. Uber said users will be able to cancel their bookings for free until the start time.

Source: techcrunch.com