Uber company postponed plans to enter five European countries
Uber, the world's largest online taxi service, has decided to temporarily halt its expansion plans in the European market, according to Zamin.uz.
As announced in February of this year, the company was supposed to launch operations in seven new European countries by 2026. However, recent data suggest that most of these plans may not be implemented.
International tech publications have reported on these changes in detail. According to influential financial outlets, Uber has postponed entry into five of the seven target countries.
Specifically, the rollout of services in countries such as Austria, Norway, and Greece has been postponed indefinitely. This indicates that the company is reassessing its long-term development strategy in the region.
Experts link this to market conditions and regulatory challenges. According to official statements from Uber representatives, the decision is related to the desire to strengthen existing achievements.
Company management emphasizes that projects recently implemented in Finland and Denmark have yielded higher-than-expected results. Therefore, at this stage, the priority is not to conquer new territories, but to maintain growth rates in current markets and improve service quality.
Analysts believe that another serious factor behind the pause in expansion plans is Uber's ongoing attempt to acquire Delivery Hero, a major European delivery service.
In May of this year, the American giant offered 10 billion euros for the asset. Although the offer was rejected, Uber intends to continue negotiations.
Halting entry into new markets also helps reduce pressure from antitrust regulators. Industry analysts note that Delivery Hero holds a leading position in several countries where Uber had planned expansion.
If Uber were to enter these markets with only its taxi service, the acquisition process could become significantly more complicated from a competition law perspective. Thus, by strategically stepping back, the company is preparing the ground for a larger move.
For now, Uber's leadership has not disclosed specific timelines for a potential return to new markets. For the company, the current priority is to improve existing platforms and successfully conclude negotiations related to the major acquisition.
This suggests that significant shifts may occur in the European transport and delivery market in the coming years. Uber's next steps will undoubtedly have an impact on the region's overall service landscape.
