Testing driver subscription model in India

Dominic Taylor, regional general manager-rides, Uber APAC, believes India is a vital part of Uber's growth story. In an interview with Shivani Shinde on the sidelines of its flagship event, Pragati, in Mumbai, he talks about the Indian market, the regulatory environment, autonomous vehicles, and more. Edited excerpts:

- Dominic Taylor, regional general manager-rides, Uber APAC,

How significant is India in Uber's global footprint?

One thing I've learnt about India is that it doesn't stay still for long—it evolves and changes all the time. India is an incredibly important country. Globally, we are now in 70 countries, and India is the third largest. From a trips perspective, India is behind the US and Brazil. It's the second-largest in terms of the number of earners who generate income through our platform.

The sheer scale makes India a critical market. What amplifies its importance globally is the pace of growth. Every month, millions of new riders join the platform.

If we had stuck only with cars, we would have been irrelevant to much of the country. That's why we've expanded into autorickshaws, motorbikes, and now buses. Finally, our engineering teams in Hyderabad and Bengaluru—the largest outside the US—are a cornerstone of our India story.

Competition is fierce in the mobility space in India, with newer players coming in. What are some of the growth drivers for Uber?

There's no doubt that competition in India is absolutely fierce. Whether it's core categories, intercity, or airport rides, we face both local and global rivals.