The tuk-tuk, a three-wheeled vehicle that seats three people, is a common mode of transport in Asian countries such as India.
The vehicle is primarily used to navigate traffic, although it is also popular for tourism purposes. This is Uber's new bet for urban mobility in Brazil.
The company launched the tuk-tuk service on Wednesday (29th) in Vitória, Espírito Santo. This is the result of a partnership with car rental company Movida. Riders can request a trip by tuk-tuk directly through the app — the fare is lower than other available options such as UberX and Comfort.
The vehicle was designed to be used during the city's peak tourist season. If it is well received by app users, the company is considering expanding the service to other locations.
The initiative is part of Uber's plan to become a multimodal transportation platform — and it is not the first time the company has relied on partners to do so.
In November 2019, the app announced an integration with São Paulo's public transportation network. Users can check, in real time, routes combining metro, bus, and train services across the city's metropolitan area.
Beyond tuk-tuks, the platform has already mapped out its next step: electric scooter sharing. Unlike the three-wheelers, these vehicles are already circulating on the country's streets — offered by companies such as Grow and Scoo.
The first city to receive the version made available by Uber was Santos — the company recently received authorization to deploy them in São Paulo.
What about you — do you think tuk-tuks are a viable transportation alternative for the country?
Source: Startse