Uber has announced the expansion of its operations to 100 more cities in India, taking its footprint to 225 cities as the ride-hailing firm looks to deepen its presence beyond major urban centres.

As per the company’s statement, the expansion will initially be led by Uber Bike across the new cities. The service will be across 18 states and one Union Territory, covering locations like Jammu, Tirunelveli, Silchar and Jamnagar. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, welcomed the expansion, noting that it aligns with the Government’s efforts to unlock economic opportunities in smaller cities. “The Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2025 provide states with a clear path to embrace bike taxis and other new mobility solutions and I urge states to adopt the Guidelines and enable affordable first-and last-mile connectivity for their citizens while boosting livelihood creation at scale,” Gadkari stated.

Uber currently operates a multimodal platform including bikes, autos, cars, and intercity services. According to the company, the platform currently enables more than 2 million Indians to earn an income. Uber stated India is already its largest market globally by the number of earners and third-largest by trip volume, highlighting the country’s role in the company’s long-term growth strategy.

This expansion move comes months after Uber infused about Rs 2,921 crore via an equity issue in its India business amid rising competitive pressure. Bike taxis were popularised by rival Rapido, which operates in around 400 cities and according to industry estimates holds nearly 60 percent of the segment. The announcement also comes shortly after longtime Uber India head Prabhjeet Singh stepped down from his role.

Analysts believe Uber’s expansion boosts the firm’s India growth strategy, particularly in smaller, growing cities, however success will depend on bike-taxi adoption, regulatory approvals, driver availability, competitive intensity and customer usage as well as satisfaction.