SAN FRANCISCO — Uber announced via its blog that it will now offer more vehicle choices through its on-demand smartphone reservation app. In addition to its “black car” option, Uber users now have the option to request hybrids, mid-range cars, SUVs and taxis.
Hybrid and mid-range cars can be selected through the “UberX” option. UberX is limited to San Francisco and New York City but offers vehicles that are 35% less expensive than the application’s “black car” option, making the service more accessible to budget-conscious travelers.
Uber plans to roll out UberX to more cities “over the coming months,” but needs “over 1000 cars to meet initial demand and maintain our standards,” the tech company said in its blog post.
Uber customers use an Android or iPhone app to select the type of vehicle they want, set their pickup location, and hit “request pickup here.” The booking is confirmed via a text message that says when the driver is on his way and when he has arrived. Clients can review the rates when they select the “car types” icon in the top right corner of the app interface.
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— Michael Campos, LCT associate editor