How did Uber for Business assess 2024?
Franck Monsauret - The 2024 results were good, and we believe - or at least hope - that this will not change in 2025. For us, 2024 was a landmark yearDespite a complicated economic and geopolitical context, things have returned to normal, and business travel was at its expected level. 2024 will have been a stable year, with a more or less stable economy, and therefore growth. We also drastically improved the user experience. We were short of drivers for several years. The marketplace was pretty tight. And this year things have evened out, so waiting times are extremely low, as are cancellation rates. It took time, a long time in fact, but that's also why I describe 2024 as a benchmark year. And there's no reason why things should change in 2025. Businesses can testify to this, with satisfaction rates rising significantly. What's more, we've had a year of strong growth in the B2B segment, to which we dedicate much-appreciated services such as the Business Comfort product, which is now the most reliable on the platform. It's the number 1 expectation of businesses. In the spring, we also launched Delegate Booking, which allows assistants to book for their managers directly from the application. And we have focused on the Reserve offer for advance bookings.
Can we consider that Uber for Business has now found its place in the corporate world?
Franck Monsauret - Today, a third of CAC 40 companies work with us. This was far from being the case just two years ago. It's taken time. Companies are often conservative, but a lot of work has been done on the perception of the Uber brand, its respectability, and also on the safety issue. There is no longer any question of Uber's profitability; the company has become established and institutionalised. And so in 2024 we saw a real acceleration in global adoption. So 2024 was a very good year, and if I had to relive it I'd be very happy!
We could have expected a complex exercise for Uber in this Olympic year...
Franck Monsauret - On the B2B side, we had a very good summer, which never normally happens! I've rarely seen growth in August. So this will be the exception that proves the rule. This can be explained by the fact that we transported the Olympic Committee's logistical partners, that many companies had guests, that there were sponsors coming to Paris who had mobility needs... So August was excellent, but it was an exception, an enchanted interlude for everyone.
What about the energy transition?
Franck Monsauret - We are strongly pursuing our electrification effortsThe aim is to have 100% electric vehicles by 2030 in Europe and North America. And the phasing out of diesel on 1 January this year. This is an extremely important issue for us. We are the leader in this field and we have a duty to lead the way. It's a point that companies are very attentive to, and it's one of the major decision-making criteria when we talk to purchasing departments. In the 3rd quarter of 2024, we travelled 16% of kilometres electrically. That's well above the general average or even the average for business fleets, which is 6%. The figure even reaches a third of the kilometres driven in Nice or Marseille. Our efforts have paid off. We also have 90% of hybrid or electric vehicles. The fare incentive offered by Uber Green has of course encouraged not only passengers but also drivers to make the switch. The subsidies we have put in place, and those provided by the government of course, have helped to speed up the process. We are now at a pivotal point, with Uber Green returning to the same price as Uber X. December 31 marked the end of fundraising for drivers. They now have a year to switch to the electric vehicle of their choice. And the Green becomes 100% electric.
How do you help companies measure and manage their CO2 emissions?
Franck Monsauret - We measure CO2 emissions for companies, so they can measure the year-on-year reduction as our fleet becomes more electrified. They have access to a dashboard This dashboard includes real-time reporting, and a report is sent every fortnight on CO2 emissions.
Where does Uber stand on the taxi market?
Franck Monsauret - The initiative was launched about two years ago, but we made real progress on this in 2024. People don't always know it, but there are taxis via the Uber application. We now have more than 3,000 taxis in the Paris region. That makes Uber the second largest taxi platform. However, there are still differences. For example, taxis can use bus lanes. Which, for a business traveller stuck in front of Gare du Nord for example, is certainly worthwhile! Pricing is also different, as it is the taximeter that is used at the end of the journey. Use is becoming more widespread, and there's a trust that has been built up with taxi drivers, who have realised that they have complete freedom of choice.
What's the latest on Uber's geographical coverage of the French market?
Franck Monsauret - Today Uber covers 41 French cities, of which 50% have opened in the last two years, the most recent being Limoges and Annecy. Of the 14 cities launched in 2023, there has been an increase of 25% in the number of people who have opened the application. So there's a virtuous circle between supply and demand. There is a real reservoir of growth, amounting to 17% per year according to certain studies in conurbations of 100 or 200,000 inhabitants, and this will continue until 2035.
What about projects such as Uber Rewards, Uber Eats For Business and autonomous vehicles on the French market?
Franck Monsauret - The autonomous vehicle project has not been abandoned at all in France. It remains a point of attention, a very important strategic point. Concerning Uber Rewards, it has become Uber One, so a monthly pass in exchange for benefits... Concerning Uber Eats for Business, usage has been rationalised since Covid. It now concerns employees who have to work late, offering them the possibility of ordering food for themselves.
What are your expectations for the coming months?
Franck Monsauret - We're expecting a good year. In France, the political situation is creating uncertainty, the impact of which is difficult to measure. But we expect 2025 to be a good year, because the fundamentals are there, and new product launches are planned, including dedicated products for business customers, starting in the first quarter. I'm very confident about these services because they correspond exactly to the expectations of business travellers. To sum up, up until now Uber for business has been working with the existing Uber, and in 2025 it will really be the year of tailor-made mobility for business travellers, with an offer specifically developed for business travellers. We've gone into a lot of detail to tailor our products as closely as possible to the expectations of the business traveller.
