Since Uber launched in 2010, its executives have repeatedly predicted that ride-hailing services and eventually self-driving cars could one day bring about the end of individual car ownership.
Just last year, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi predicted that all cars would be autonomous in “20 plus years,” leading to a decline in car ownership. He even suggested that driving itself could one day become viewed “like horseback riding” is today.
More recently, Uber President and Chief Operating Officer Andrew Macdonald said during an August episode of the 20VC podcast that “nobody’s going to own a car” in 15 to 20 years.
But until then, Uber apparently wants to help people reserve parking spot for the cars they currently own.
The company rolled out Uber Parking on Monday, a new feature that lets users find, compare, and reserve parking spots directly through its app.
The launch comes about nine months after Uber announced its acquisition of parking reservation app SpotHero (which Uber execs say will continue to operate as a separate app). The deal gave Uber access to SpotHero’s network of more than 13,000 parking garages, lots, and valet services, across more than 400 cities in the U.S. and Canada.
For now, however, Uber Parking is only available in 15 U.S. cities including Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.—although Uber says it plans to expand the feature.
The Uber app now has a new Parking icon on its home screen. After clicking on it, users can enter their destination, select the date and time they need parking, and browse available spots on an interactive map showing prices. They can also filter results based on preferences, including self-parking, valet services, garages, and outdoor lots.
To reserve a spot, users need to provide their vehicle’s make, model, and license plate number. Once they arrive, they can enter the parking facility by scanning a QR code or via license plate recognition, depending on the location.
The move gives Uber a way to make money even when customers choose to drive themselves.
“Whether you’re riding with Uber or driving your own car, we want to make getting where you’re going as seamless as possible,” Amit Fulay, Uber’s vice president of product, said in a statement.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi made a similar point during the company’s third-quarter earnings call last week, noting that commuters are among its biggest customers.
“And to be able to offer commuters an Uber to work, a pass to avoid surge, and parking if they want it when they want to drive is a great example of us building out our inventory of services to the commuter who is a top customer for us,” Khosrowshahi told investors.
But Uber hasn’t given up on its vision of a future without personal car ownership.
Uber says it’s exploring using parking facilities in its network as staging and waiting areas for autonomous vehicles. The company says this could help reduce traffic congestion, unnecessary driving, and wear and tear on vehicles.
Uber already works with more than 30 autonomous vehicle partners across ride-hailing, delivery, and freight, including companies such as Waymo and Zoox.
