Uber tests ‘Flex’ feature in India, allowing riders to choose tailored fare preferences: Report

Uber is in the process of developing a new feature named ‘Uber Flex,’ which will empower users in India to select their ride fare based on personal preferences. 

Currently undergoing testing in several Indian cities, this upcoming feature aims to provide users with more control over their ride costs, addressing concerns related to escalating fares. This move reflects Uber’s commitment to enhancing user flexibility and satisfaction in the Indian market.

This innovation isn’t entirely unfamiliar to Indian users. InDrive, a California-based company operating in multiple Indian cities, already allows users to set their preferred fare. Notably, InDrive’s pricing is believed to be 10 to 15 percent more affordable compared to other major ride-hailing services in India, including Uber and Ola.

Uber Flex provides riders with nine different pricing options to choose from when they’re booking a ride instead of the usual dynamic pricing. Among these options, one price is set as the default or initial price.

When a rider selects a specific fare from these nine options, this chosen fare is then shared with nearby drivers. Essentially, riders have the flexibility to pick a fare that they’re comfortable paying for their ride.

However, if the fare is not acceptable to the driver, they have the option to reject the ride.

This system essentially allows riders to have more control over the price they’re willing to pay for their ride, while giving drivers the choice to accept or decline based on the fare offered by the rider.

You can pay for these rides either with cash or through digital payment methods. However, it’s important to know that not all types of rides in every city have this flexible pricing from Uber.