Uber to triple number of drivers, launch ‘UberPool’

Uber is set to expand its pool of drivers and will launch “UberPool”, a carpooling service, in Bangkok next year.

The private car company will increase the number of its drivers from 30,000 to 100,000 by next year as currently it can only serve around 85 percent of customers with an estimated wait time of 5.5 minutes. 

Uber also plans to launch “UberPool”, a carpooling service on the Uber app that matches customers with fellow riders heading in the same directions to split costs, The Nation reported.

About 2 million Bangkokians have taken an Uber ride since its launch last year. The company wants to cut its pick-up time to three minutes, said Chan Park, general manager for Southeast Asia.

The areas with the highest demand for Uber are Ratchaprasong Junction, Sathorn road, and Suhkumvit road. 

For the cheaper UberX, the business has grown 12-fold since its launch six months ago. 

“Thailand is a huge potential market. The firm’s business focus will be consumer-centric so that it will create business opportunities in Thailand. It also has plans to expand to big cities,” said Barry Levy, acting managing director of Uber Thailand.