Uber unveils pilot motorcycle ride-sharing service for India

[BANGALORE] Uber Technologies Inc announced a pilot motorcycle and scooter service for India as the ride-sharing application adds to its efforts to capture customers in the world's second-most populous nation.

UberMOTO's on-demand service will debut in the technology hub of Bengaluru offering rides starting from 15 rupees (S$0.31), it said in a statement Thursday. The announcement comes a week after a similar service debuted n Bangkok.

The world's most valuable startup is stealing a march over Ola, beating its Indian rival to the start of two-wheel services. The San Francisco-based company operates its ride-sharing service in 26 Indian cities, more than any other country outside its US home, according to the statement.

Ola, backed by SoftBank Group Corp and Tiger Global Management, has a presence in more than 100 Indian cities and is part of an alliance of Uber's competitors including Didi Kuaidi in China, GrabTaxi Holdings Pte in Southeast Asia and Lyft Inc in the US.

Commuters in Bengaluru can summon motorcycles through the existing Uber app and tap into a popular personal transport option in a city with meager public transit choices.

UberMOTO expands the ride service's fleet beyond cars. Uber introduced three-wheeler autorickshaw rides in Delhi last year but the pilot lasted for just seven months.

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