Uber CEO Is Fine Not Having a Superapp Model to Broaden Ridesharer’s Reach Into Travel
Photo Credit: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi speaking with Skift Executive Editor Dennis Schaal at Skift Global Forum in New York City on September 22, 2021. Source: Skift Skift / Matt Mateiescu
Skift Take
Come for the rides, stay for the food. Dara Khosrowshahi joined Uber as CEO when ridehailing was everything. Now he's navigating a multi-product approach. Yet when it comes to profits, Uber's still en route.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said his strategy is to expand the mobility company's delivery business. But Uber won't expand into selling flights or hotels and Khosrowshahi isn't interested in mimicking the superapp strategy that he said is better suited to Asia.
"Anything you want to be delivered to your home with a frequent use case, that's what we'll offer," Khosrowshahi said during an on-stage interview at Skift Global Forum on Wednesday. The CEO doesn't see leisure travel as a frequent use case with local demand. Uber is only tiptoeing into classic travel by adding car rental — where an Uber driver typically brings the vehicle to you, but a third-party brand provides the rental service.
In 2017, when Khosrowshahi left the job of CEO of Expedia Group
to become the leader of Uber, some critics feared he co
