Uber Expands Same-Day Delivery with New Courier XL Service for Larger Packages

With its new Courier XL service, Uber has jumped into the large package delivery market, expanding beyond its same-day delivery options.

A company spokesperson confirmed the launch, saying, "Courier XL lets customers ship bigger packages across town. We're still fine-tuning the service to make it both convenient and cheaper than alternatives."

Currently available only in Mumbai, the move puts Uber on a collision course with Porter, the entrenched player in India's intra-city logistics sector. Porter has weathered market ups and downs by focusing heavily on driver retention, notably through same-day payment systems.

The logistics startup landscape has been brutal, with many well-funded companies failing to gain traction. Most strugglers have bombed due to poor tech implementation and the inability to balance the competing needs of shippers and drivers. Bengaluru-based TheKarrier became another casualty when it shut down in October 2016.

Uber India has bounced back impressively since the pandemic. In a recent chat with The CapTable, India head Prabhjeet Singh credited leadership stability for the company's resilience. India's growing importance to Uber's global R&D efforts has also reshaped how the company operates locally.

The ride-hailing company runs three primary operations in India: its core ride-hailing business, a support team handling everything from legal to marketing, and an engineering division that bolsters India's position as a critical hub for Uber worldwide.

Last month, Uber ditched its traditional commission model for auto drivers nationwide and switched to subscriptions instead. This follows similar moves by rivals Rapido and Namma Yatri, signaling a major shift in how these platforms make money.