SA国际传媒

Morning Report:聽Uber catches up to rivals with insurance benefits in a likely bid to retain drivers.

Uber today that its drivers in India will get free insurance, which covers 鈥渄eath, disability or hospitalization due to accidents鈥� according to Reuters.

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India is not the only country where Uber has issued free insurance. The policy Southeast Asian countries such as Myanmar and Indonesia. But why did Uber choose to offer free insurance coverage in India? Amidst headlines for its , exits, and , drivers in India have the ride-hailing unicorn鈥檚 low pay. Offering free insurance benefits may help Uber maintain its foothold in the market.

Furthermore, India, Uber鈥檚 (after ), could be quite lucrative. Whereas Uber鈥檚 U.S. operations still lose money (though losses are narrowing), its services in Southeast Asia are . Ex-CEO Travis Kalanick also last year that India would follow the same path with its growing population and lack of better transportation alternatives. The benefit could also act as a response to counter its local rival Ola, which started offering to its drivers in 2015.

Uber just 鈥擠ara Kohsrowshai from Expedia鈥攁fter a two-month vacancy. However, the ridesharing company still has to find a path to profitability while salvaging its notorious reputation. Tackling India with benefits that match its rivals may be the first step that drives Uber closer to these goals.

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