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A billion journeys, countless stories: How India Ubered through 2024
MUMBAI: The year 2024 raced by like a city cab weaving through rush-hour traffic, filled with moments of highs and lows, triumphs and challenges.
Yet, amidst the chaos, millions of Indians found their sanctuary in the backseat of an Uber, trusting the app to take them home safely, no matter the hour or occasion. From early morning commutes that witnessed dreams in the making to late-night rides after celebrations under city lights, Uber became the silent witness to India’s stories.
With 9.2 billion kilometres covered, Uber’s wheels spun across highways and alleys, connecting lives and destinations. Each trip carried the essence of urban India—its resilience, ambition, and zest for life—cementing Uber’s role as more than a ride-hailing app, but a part of the nation’s daily pulse.
This is the story of How India Ubered in 2024, a data-rich narrative of the trends, journeys, and choices that defined a year of movement and momentum.
Uber trips covered a distance equivalent to the time it would take 8,752 years to traverse at 120 km/h – the same time humans evolved from the Stone Age to the AI era. Kochi riders emerged as the nation’s most loved, receiving an impressive average rating of 4.90, while Delhi-NCR topped the charts for total trips.
Key highlights from 2024:
Rider preferences and patterns:
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Most popular products: Uber Auto and Uber Go.
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Most active cities: Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, and Kolkata.
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Peak travel time: 6 PM to 7 PM.
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Top day for rides: Friday.
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Busiest month: December.
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Highest single-day trips: October 9, during Durga Puja and Navratri.
Rider Ratings (Citywise)
|
City |
Average Rider Rating |
|
Kochi |
4.90 |
|
Chandigarh |
4.816 |
|
Pune |
4.815 |
|
Ahmedabad |
4.810 |
|
Jaipur |
4.784 |
|
Bangalore |
4.781 |
|
Hyderabad |
4.779 |
|
Chennai |
4.744 |
|
National Average |
4.74 |
|
Lucknow |
4.739 |
|
Delhi NCR |
4.714 |
|
Mumbai |
4.711 |
|
Kolkata |
4.649 |
Late-night trends
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Mumbai recorded the most late-night rides, surpassing Delhi-NCR.
Work commutes
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Bengaluru had the highest number of office-hour rides.
India’s intercity highlights:
Top routes:
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Mumbai – Pune.
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Delhi – Agra.
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Bangalore – Mysore.
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Lucknow – Kanpur.
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Ahmedabad – Vadodara.
Longest trips:
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Noida-Sasaram-Noida (1747 km).
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Delhi-Ayodhya-Delhi (1464 km).
Green mobility and new products
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EV travel: Riders covered 170 million kilometres in electric vehicles, saving 8.5 million hours and contributing to reduced carbon emissions.
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Innovative launches:
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Uber Black (premium service).
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Uber Shuttle (licensed app-based bus service).
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Uber Pet (for domesticated animals).
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Uber Shikara (Dal Lake rides in Srinagar).
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Most visited tourist spot:
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The Taj Mahal in Agra topped the charts for Uber Intercity rides.
Unique milestones:
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Uber Courier completed the highest deliveries at lunch hour (1 PM), with one user booking 2,900 courier trips.
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Uber Bus introduced 432,000 first-time users to app-based mass transit.
Speaking about the report, Uber India country head, Himanshu Tandon said, “2024 was a landmark year for Uber India. Our data underscores the evolving needs of riders across the country, and we are thrilled to have played a pivotal role in their journeys. From green mobility to innovative services, Uber remains committed to redefining urban mobility while fostering sustainable development.”
Uber’s report paints a vivid picture of how Indians embraced ridesharing to stay connected, marking 2024 as a transformative year for mobility.
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IndiGo names William Walsh CEO
Former IATA chief to take charge in August after Elbers exit, Bhatia steers interim
India’s biggest airline has moved fast and gone global. InterGlobe Aviation, which operates IndiGo, has tapped aviation heavyweight William Walsh as chief executive officer, subject to regulatory approvals, marking a sharp pivot as the carrier eyes its next burst of expansion.
Walsh, currently director general at the International Air Transport Association, will step down on July 31, 2026, and is expected to take charge by August 3. The appointment comes barely three weeks after Pieter Elbers exited the corner office, with Rahul Bhatia holding the fort in the interim.
The choice signals intent. Walsh brings decades of cockpit-to-boardroom experience, having led British Airways and later International Airlines Group, the parent of Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling. His tenure across carriers has been defined by hard resets, restructurings and cross-border consolidation—skills IndiGo may need as competition intensifies and scale becomes decisive.
Vikram Singh Mehta, chairman and non-executive independent director of IndiGo, said Walsh’s experience in managing large-scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics makes him well-suited to lead IndiGo in an increasingly competitive global aviation environment, adding that the appointment marks a new chapter as the airline scales in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
Rahul Bhatia said Walsh’s global perspective, operational expertise and customer-focused approach would be critical as IndiGo enters its next phase of expansion.
Walsh, widely regarded as one of the industry’s most influential figures, will oversee overall management and strategic direction, with a mandate spanning operational performance, network expansion, commercial strategy and customer experience. He is expected to work closely with the board and leadership team to sharpen IndiGo’s growth trajectory.
Walsh said IndiGo has a strong foundation and is well-positioned to capitalise on the evolving aviation landscape, adding that he looks forward to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation and sustainable value creation across the organisation.
A new captain, a bigger runway—and a market that rewards scale. IndiGo is lining up for its next take-off.
