UberEats launches in Japan

I wonder what Uber is thinking about this service here in Japan. Plenty of places already have their own in-house delivery services and how is Uber going to compete, price wise.

Uber is just doing this to get a presence and brand image in Japan, when automated self driving taxi come to Japan, and they will come. There will be no need to protect human drivers as most people will use self driving taxis as theyll be cheaper, Uber will be ready to enter the taxi market when this happens. The days of human driven taxis are numbered, anybody who thinks otherwise is a fool.

Uber uber alles!

More low wage part time jobs. just what Japan needs.

I generally abhor the tipping custom on North America and how it has spread to certain facets of other countries, but for delivery people I really think tipping is one thing that MIGHT keep some doing what is a horrible and relatively thankless job to begin with. These kids have to ride (in this case) through torrential rain and sometimes almost typhoon-like conditions after being expected to memorize the most obscure mapping system and all its neighbourhoods, and get in HUGE trouble if late or if there's an accident as a result of speeding to avoid being scolded. Good luck to these people!!

when automated self driving taxi come to Japan, and they will come.

I think what you're forgetting is that Uber is just an app with a clever marketing department. Uber has absolutely no competitive advantage when it comes to manufacturing, purchasing, insuring, maintaining, parking, and operating a fleet of driverless cars. If driverless cars are the future of taxis, many other companies like car manufacturers (who can get the cars cheaply), or convenience stores (where cars can be stored during off peak hours) will have a huge advantage over Uber in this market. Currently Uber owns no land, they get their drivers to provide the cars, the insurance, the parking, the mainanance etc. It's a completely new business if they go into self driving cars. The few self driving cars they have in Pittsburgh are just a marketing gimmick.

These kids have to ride (in this case) through torrential rain and sometimes almost typhoon-like conditions after being expected to memorize the most obscure mapping system and all its neighbourhoods, and get in HUGE trouble if late or if there's an accident as a result of speeding to avoid being scolded. Good luck to these people!!

Huh? Never heard of google maps or other route planning apps? There is absolutely ZERO need today for anyone to need to memorize obscure mapping systems, and uber prides itself on using technology.

I highly doubt that their employees are going to be analog in a digital world.

Sounds good for busy people, and above all, boob tubers as well. Uber handy!

If driverless cars are the future of taxis, many other companies like car manufacturers (who can get the cars cheaply), or convenience stores (where cars can be stored during off peak hours) will have a huge advantage over Uber in this market. well the more competitors the better. Also when self driving taxis do become available theyll have no choice but to be competitively priced, otherwise whats stopping a person using an app on their phone to get their own personal self driving vehicle to come and pick them up from the train station or nearby with their vehicle parked in their own driveway!?