Brands
Uber shifts into a higher gear with big expansion plans for Uber Black
MUMBAI: When everyday rides start feeling a little too economy, Uber is betting that more Indians are ready to travel business class. Uber has announced an aggressive expansion of its premium offering, Uber Black, with plans to double the size of its luxury fleet across India in 2026.
Currently operating in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, Uber Black caters to riders seeking quieter cabins, higher-end cars and top-rated drivers. Positioned as the “business class of the back seat”, the service has also carved out dedicated Uber Black Zones at major airports, including Kempegowda International Airport (Terminals 1 and 2) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Terminal 2, P6), promising faster, smoother premium pick-ups.
To fuel this expansion, Uber has made a Series A investment in Carrum, a fleet management firm backed by the Cardekho Group. Carrum has been a long-time fleet partner on the Uber platform, and the investment is expected to help scale high-quality vehicle supply to meet rising premium demand.
Adding another layer of convenience, Uber has also rolled out its Reserve feature for Uber Black in Delhi. Riders can now book premium cars anywhere from two hours to 90 days in advance, making the service particularly appealing for airport transfers, business travel and special occasions where certainty matters.
Uber president for India and South Asia Prabhjeet Singh said the company is seeing strong momentum in premium mobility, driven by riders who value comfort and elevated service standards. The focus, he noted, is on consistently raising the quality bar while creating long-term value for riders, drivers and fleet partners.
Alongside premium rides, Uber highlighted the growing traction of Uber One, its membership programme offering benefits across bikes, autos and cars. With over one million members already enrolled in India, the programme reflects a broader shift towards bundled value for frequent riders.
As Uber Black gears up for its next phase, the message is clear: for a growing segment of urban India, getting there comfortably is becoming just as important as getting there quickly.
Brands
Faber-Castell India appoints Sunaina Haldar as director – marketing
With stints at Tata, SleepyCat and ADF Foods under her belt, Haldar is primed to redraw Faber-Castell’s brand story
MUMBAI: Faber-Castell India has poached Sunaina Haldar from ADF Foods, appointing her director – marketing as the German stationery brand looks to muscle up in a category that is rapidly reinventing itself around creativity and self-expression.
Haldar hit the ground running. “My first couple of weeks have been incredibly energising, understanding consumers, visiting markets, engaging with retailers and immersing myself into the world of Faber-Castell Group,” she said.
She arrives with considerable firepower. At ADF Foods, Haldar ran marketing across India and international markets for a portfolio spanning Ashoka, Aeroplane, Camel and ADF Soul. Before that, she was vice-president – marketing at direct-to-consumer mattress brand SleepyCat, where she helmed brand, content and performance marketing. Her résumé also includes a stint leading marketing, new product development and CRM for Tata SmartFoodz at Tata Consumer Products, no small proving ground.
Between corporate roles, Haldar also operated as a fractional CMO for early-stage startups, building marketing strategy and operational structures from scratch, a signal that she knows how to move fast with limited resources.
With 18 years straddling FMCG, D2C and the startup world, Haldar now takes the reins at a brand that has long owned the classroom but is clearly hungry for the living room. In a stationery market where the pencil has become a lifestyle statement, Faber-Castell has picked someone who knows exactly how to sell that story.
