Uber launches service aimed at Hong Kong’s budget travellers

An Uber office in Cheung Sha Wan. Photo: Edward Wong

Car-HailingmobileappUberislaunchinganewservicetodayinthecitytoappealtothebudget-mindedmarket.

ThenewuberXfeaturessmallercarmodelssuchastheToyotaPriusandHondaJazzatamoreaffordableratecomparedwiththecompany’sexistingUberBlackline.

ThebasefareforarideonuberXistobeHK$10.AnadditionalfeeofHK$6willbechargedforeachkilometretravelledandHK$1foreachminuteofwaitingwhileintransit.ThenewservicehasaminimumchargeofHK$30.

TheratesforUberBlack,whichfeatureshigh-endcarmodelssuchastheTeslaModelS,TeslaModelS,MercedesS/EClassandToyotaAlphard,areadjustedasoftodayaswell.

ThechargeforeachminuteofwaitingintransitisreducedtoHK$1fromHK$1.5,butthechargeforeachkilometretravelledisincreasedfromHK$6toHK$8,inadditiontoitsbasefare,whichistoremainatHK$25.TheminimumchargeisalsotoberaisedfromHK$40toHK$50.

Ubersaiditsnewservicewasaresponsetotheneedforamoreaffordablewaytotravelusingitsapp.

Thenewservicecameinthewakeofaplanbylocallylicensedtaxidrivers’groupstodeveloptheirowncar-hailingmobileapptocompetewithUberandsimilarcar-hailingservices.

Uberhasdrawncontroversyinthecity.InAugust,policeraidedanofficeofthecompanyaspartofacrackdownonunlicensedtransportservices.