Uber adds 'valet' car rentals as it looks to rev rides

Uber is offering a broader array of service to help people move around and get goods and services as the global pandemic eases

Uber is offering a broader array of service to help people move around and get goods and services as the global pandemic eases

Uber on Wednesday added valet delivery of rental cars as part of a suite of offerings as it aims to be "one-stop-shop" for post-pandemic venturing out or dining in.

As Covid-19 vaccines make it safer for people to move about, Uber aims to be a hub for summoning rides, running errands, or renting vehicles.

"That's really ultimately what we're after and we want to make sure that Uber speaks to all those use cases."

"While much of the world stood still over the last year, our team at Uber has been reimagining how the world moves to help us return -- not just to normal, but to a better normal," Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi said in a blog post.

The San Francisco-based firm's vision has long been to get people using a combination of its services, for example enticing fans of Uber Eats to tap the app for rides or rentals.

A "valet" option added to Uber's car rental feature available in the United States will let people use the app to book vehicles from Avis, with more partners to be added.

Uber Rent with Valet launched in Washington, DC, and was to be gradually expanded to other US cities.

"Merged those two companies would create a fairly powerful contender in the rental space."

Uber combining its services smoothly in a single smartphone app could be win and keep users, provided the experience is a good one for users, Enderle reasoned.

"But, it's going to depend on the execution and Uber's execution has been anything but even."

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Originally published as Uber adds 'valet' car rentals as it looks to rev rides