US-based ride-hailing platform inDrive is accelerating its expansion plans in India, with upcoming launches in Bengaluru and Pune. The company aims to tap into the growing popularity of its brand in the country and the thriving ride-hailing market in Bengaluru, which ranked second in terms of Uber rides taken in 2022.
InDrive’s expansion into Bengaluru and Pune is part of its global growth strategy, focused on providing fairer solutions to address gaps in underserved markets. What sets InDrive apart from regular cab aggregators is its unique pricing model that allows users and drivers to negotiate fares, moving away from the fixed price model that dominates the industry.
Interestingly, this expansion comes almost four years after InDrive initially launched its services in India in 2019. Since then, the platform has expanded its operations to ten Indian cities, including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, and Jaipur, offering intercity, freight, and delivery services.
To support its expansion, InDrive has initiated a comprehensive marketing campaign and plans to introduce services in regional languages, starting with Tamil. The platform has already witnessed a significant increase in active users in Delhi NCR and has onboarded thousands of drivers in the region.
InDrive’s entry into the market puts it in direct competition with established cab aggregators like Ola, Uber, and Meru Cabs. The ride-hailing industry in India has experienced substantial growth in recent years, driven by the demand for convenience and increased disposable income. Ola and Uber, in particular, have dominated the market, accounting for the highest number of trips and distances covered.
With its unique pricing approach and focus on underserved markets, InDrive aims to carve out its own space in the competitive ride-hailing industry in India. The company plans to initially target smaller neighboring cities to establish synergies and gradually expand its footprint from there.
