Uber to roll out Elite chauffeur service in California, with plans to go global

Uber has launched a new invite-only chauffeur service in two Californian cities, with plans to roll the service out in major cities worldwide.

The service is called Uber Elite, and Uber said it was aimed at “executives, frequent travelers, and riders looking for a more elevated experience”, which would pitch it against established global chauffeur platforms such as Blacklane and Wheely.

Uber Elite is launching first in Los Angeles and San Francisco, with New York to follow in the next few months, then other cities in the US and internationally. Invitations will first be extended to frequent Uber Black and Uber for Business users, before the service is eventually made available to all customers.

Uber claims that a ride booked through Uber Elite will be operated by a professional chauffeur driving a new-model luxury vehicle less than three years old. An Elite-only “meet and greet” feature allows riders to arrange to be picked up in the airport terminal when they arrive by air.

Uber said the Elite service would include phone chargers, bottled water, mints and premium hand wipes. Customers can also request sparkling water or champagne in the app ahead of their ride, and Uber says it’ll work with its partners to accommodate them “where feasible”. Uber Elite trips also offer round-the-clock phone support.Journeys can be booked one hour in advance or up to 90 days ahead.

Pradeep Parameswaran, Uber’s global head of mobility, said: “Uber Elite is a new offering that blends the unmatched scale of our platform with the precision and polish of a professional chauffeur service.” He added that the service represents “a meaningful step forward in how we serve premium commuters and global travellers and raises the bar for luxury mobility on Uber”.