Brands
Uber hits the road with Motorhomes in more cities
MUMBAI: Buckle up for a new kind of road trip. After cruising through Delhi NCR with a sold-out pilot, Uber is taking its Intercity Motorhomes experience to Mumbai, Bangalore, and Pune. The limited-edition offering, which lets riders book caravan-style vehicles for outstation getaways, opens bookings on 13 October, with rides starting 15 October.
Initially launched in August to promote premium outstation travel, the Delhi pilot saw 100 per cent occupancy throughout its run, prompting the expansion. Each Motorhome comes loaded with road-trip luxuries, a TV, microwave, mini-fridge, and even a lavatory, offering up to five passengers a lounge-on-wheels experience complete with a driver and helper.
“Uber Intercity has become a preferred choice for dependable and comfortable travel between cities,” said Uber India and South Asia director – consumer growth Shiva Shailendran. “With the success of Motorhomes and expansion to new cities, we’re strengthening Intercity’s position as the go-to for long-distance travel.”
The festive season, known for weddings, holidays, and spontaneous getaways, makes this expansion timely. Riders can book trips through Uber Reserve, add stops, track rides, and access 24 by 7 support, though early booking is advised given the surge in demand.
With over 3,000 intercity routes now under its belt, Uber continues to steer India’s outstation travel scene into a smoother, smarter future, one comfortable kilometre at a time.
Brands
Wipro hires 7,500 freshers, withholds FY27 hiring outlook
Profit rises to Rs 3,522 crore, Rs 15,000 crore buyback announced.
MUMBAI- Hiring may be on, but visibility is off, Wipro is adding talent even as it pauses the crystal ball. The company hired 7,500 freshers in FY26 but stopped short of offering any hiring outlook for FY27, underscoring the uncertainty gripping the IT services sector as it pivots towards an AI-led operating model.
The disclosure came alongside its fourth-quarter earnings, where management flagged volatile demand conditions and refrained from committing to future workforce expansion. Chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil noted that over 3,000 of the total hires were onboarded in the March quarter alone, signalling continued intake despite a lack of clarity on deployment pipelines.
This divergence active hiring without forward guidance reflects a broader industry pattern where talent acquisition continues even as deal conversions remain uneven and client spending cycles stretch. Wipro expects its IT services revenue for the June quarter to range between a decline of 2 per cent and flat growth sequentially in constant currency terms, reinforcing near-term caution.
Chief executive officer Srini Pallia pointed to artificial intelligence as both a disruptor and an opportunity. He said evolving client priorities are pushing the company towards outcome-driven engagements, with Wipro increasingly focusing on a services-as-software model through its AI Native Business and Platforms unit. The shift marks a structural change from traditional headcount-led growth to AI-enabled delivery frameworks.
The company has already committed over $1 billion to its AI ecosystem, with investors closely watching how these investments translate into revenue. For now, the numbers present a mixed picture. Net profit rose sequentially to Rs 3,522 crore, while revenue grew 3 per cent to Rs 24,236 crore. However, core IT services performance remained under pressure, with full-year revenue declining 0.3 per cent in dollar terms and 1.6 per cent in constant currency.
Large deal bookings offered a counterpoint, rising 45.4 per cent year-on-year to $7.8 billion, highlighting a widening gap between deal wins and actual revenue realisation. On a quarterly basis, IT services revenue slipped 1.2 per cent sequentially, signalling continued softness in execution.
Margins, however, told a more optimistic story. Operating margins expanded to 17.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting improved cost discipline. That said, the company cautioned that upcoming wage hikes and the ramp-up of large deals could exert pressure going forward.
Attrition stood at 13.8 per cent in the March quarter, indicating stabilisation after periods of elevated churn. Alongside its earnings, Wipro also announced a Rs 15,000 crore share buyback, reinforcing its focus on shareholder returns, with a payout ratio of 88 per cent over the past three years.
Taken together, the numbers capture a company in transition investing in AI, maintaining hiring momentum, but navigating a demand environment where growth is uneven and visibility remains limited.
