According to The Information, Uber has started negotiations with the electric scooter company Bird. Of course, there are myriads of companies making electric scooters, but Uber wants to be known as the go-to destination for all on-demand transportation needs. So the best way to reach this goal is to literally acquire the leaders. As the source reported, Uber is preparing a multibillion-dollar deal. But as a backup, the company is also communicating with smaller Lime.
Also Read: Are Electric Scooters Safe?
Uber is the leader of the private sector, but they also want to provide one-stop service in all shared travel areas. So the company considered that the acquisition of a well-known company is the best path to expand the market share.
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Uber already owns a minority stake in Lime. The cooperation agreement between the two companies this summer also made Lime’s service first integrated into Uber’s application. Both parties are motivated to reach an agreement: Uber hopes to lock up the market as soon as the two companies mature, and the two startups also want to get enough capital to boost their growth. The Information said that Uber hopes to confirm the agreement with Bird or Lime before the end of the year, indicating that the negotiations have entered an advanced stage.
Without denying The Information’s information about ongoing talks, Bird CEO Travis VanderZanden responded: ‘Bird is not for sale.’ But this may be just a negotiating tactic.
However, these three companies may not be able to reach a final deal, but Uber is indeed optimistic about the development of the scooter-sharing market.
