Uber is evolving into more transportation formats than solely automobiles. Recently, Uber launched UberMOTO in Thailand – adding motorbike sharing to its growing fleet of transportation services. Bangkok, Thailand, is Uber’s first city for motorcycle services.
Why Bangkok? According to Uber, traffic speeds in Bangkok are under 11 kmh during rush hour, and the average daily commute takes nearly two hours. Motorcycle rides are an affordable and easy way to travel and cut commute times. Motorcycle taxis are popular in Thailand, China, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, and Indonesia. UberMOTO has thousands of motorbike drivers already and is looking at expanding this mode of transportation in other emerging markets.
How popular will this new mode of transportation be? When UberMOTO launched, the demand was far greater than the supply available. The service does not yet regulate the number of riders allowed on one bike, and multiple passengers is often the norm in Thailand.
Might this be an option in traffic-clogged U.S. cities such as Los Angeles? Time will tell.
Group Activities and Discussion Questions:
- Show the Uber news release announcing the new service: https://newsroom.uber.com/thailand/ubermoto-en
- Show the video explaining UberMOTO: https://youtu.be/nO48P5wkk_Y
- Poll students: Who current uses ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft? Why are these so popular?
- Would students be willing to use UberMOTO in the U.S.? Why or why not?
- Divide students into teams. Have each team develop a marketing plan for UberMOTO.
Source: Wall Street Journal, Brandchannel.com, other news sources
