- Uber is buying parking reservation app SpotHero.
- Company plans to add parking spots to the Uber app.
- Uber One members can expect future parking benefits.
Uber’s app is about to get a lot more useful, even if you never book a ride. That’s because the company will soon offer parking reservations thanks to the acquisition of SpotHero.
The company didn’t reveal terms of the transaction, but noted SpotHero launched in 2011 and has become the “industry-leading parking reservation app.” It enables users to save a spot at more than 13,000 parking garages and lots in more than 400 cities across the United States and Canada.
This expansive network has reportedly been used by “millions of drivers” and has sold over $2 billion worth of parking reservations, which explains why Uber is interested.
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While the acquisition is subject to regulatory approval, it’s expected to close during the first half of the year. If everything goes according to plan, Uber will rollout an in-app parking reservation experience powered by SpotHero.
The ride-hailing giant isn’t saying much about the parking experience at this point, but it will be focused on providing parking for commuters as well as those attending concerts and sporting events. Uber is also aiming to grab a slice of the lucrative airport parking market.
Interestingly, the company is already hinting at adding parking benefits to Uber One memberships. There’s no word on specifics, but Uber One currently costs $9.99 per month and provides members with $0 delivery fees, surge pricing discounts, and 6% back on rides.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said, “We’ve built Uber around giving people more ways to get around without needing a car. But for the moments when people do choose to drive, SpotHero on the Uber app will make the experience easier than ever, and bring more people into the Uber ecosystem.”
