Uber launches hourly cab rental service UberHIRE; cash-only option for now

UberHIRE will not attract surge pricing; base fare for the service set at Rs 449 to Rs 649

Uber is sidestepping its promise of efficiency and increased utilisation of cabs through the on-demand model by launching hourly rentals in India, as it desperately looks to get ahead of local rival Ola in the country.

Renting of cabs on an hourly basis, a popular model of getting around in India, was disrupted by Ola and Uber. Now both companies have offerings that do exactly that, going against their on-demand models that helped them gain massive scale in the country in a short period of time.

Fares for UberHIRE are between Rs 449 and Rs 549 for the first two hours or