When Uber arrived in London a year ago as the epitome of luxury – a chic yet affordable alternative to the current offering of black cabs and mini-cabs – we slotted perfectly into a previously untapped niche. The opportunity to get a chauffeur-driven Mercedes, Jaguar, BMW, or Audi in minutes with our UberLUX service enabled just about anyone to ride like royalty.
Now that we’ve mastered the art of elegance on demand, we’re celebrating our first anniversary in London by introducing uberX, which offers the quality and convenience of Uber with arguably the lowest priced non-exec cars on the market, making Uber accessible to everyone! We’re kicking things off with Britain’s very own hip hop duo Rizzle Kicks as our rider zero. The boys tapped the app, got picked up at the Radio 1 Breakfast Show (after debuting their new single “Lost Generation”), and were swiftly and stylishly transported to Hanover Square, Mayfair in an Audi A6.
Effective today, uberX prices are 40% cheaper than Addison Lee and 30-50% cheaper than a Black Cab, depending on the tariff level*. We’re merging the value of minicabs with the efficiency and instant gratification of Uber. That means you can still make an entrance at the club tonight in the backseat of an UberLUX Jag XJ or S-Class but tomorrow morning you can nurse your hangover on the way to work in a lower-cost uberX BMW 3 Series or Toyota Prius equivalent. The beauty of uberX is it’s open to everyone!
How do I get an uberX?
1. Open your Uber app and you’ll find two options along the bottom: uberX and UberLUX
2. Slide the bar along to uberX to give it a try
3. Set your pickup location and tap ‘Request uberX’
Where is my uberX?
For the next few weeks, uberX will be in beta mode and we’ll be working round the clock to bring more cars onto our system but there will be the odd occasion when uberX is unavailable. Please note, you can still request an UberLUX to get you where you need to go!
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uberX Flat Rates:
Central London to Heathrow: £30 – £45
Central London to City Airport: £12 – £33
Central London to Gatwick Airport: £45-55
Some Sample Fares:
Shoreditch to London Bridge £9
Bank to Berkeley Square £9
Clapham to Soho £13
Baker Street to The Tate Modern £15
Clerkenwell to South Kensington £17
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Last but not least, we wanted to say that we’re incredibly thankful to both our clients and drivers for making this happen, christening uberX and celebrating our inaugural year are major milestones for us! Literally tens of thousands of Londoners have delighted at our unique, luxury experience, resulting in hundreds of drivers generating an independent wage, many even having built small businesses with the tools Uber provided.
One of our partner drivers, Ciprian, says using Uber has changed his family’s life. “It gives me the freedom to plan my time exactly the way I want to. My money worries have all disappeared”. Similarly, partner driver Mustafa — a 12-year veteran of the chauffeur industry — says when Uber came to London, it suited his career goals and lifestyle perfectly. “I can work when I want and money is great. There’s healthy competition internally and I chase it every week to win it.” Nizam, another partner driver, says Uber has enabled him to build up a business of six cars in just seven months. “Every driver I have introduced has one thing to say, ‘I love it!’”
Share your birthday wishes and favourite Uber stories with us on Twitter! #uberXcited
London, your uberX is arriving now!
