Uber halts planned expansion of Uber Eats – Austria not affected by market entry

Uber Eats was already available in Austria several years ago. The newly announced market entry would have been a new attempt, but has now been withdrawn, according to the "Financial Times."

Uber had only announced the expansion plans for Uber Eats in mid-February. At the time, insiders argued that Uber considered its market launches in Finland and Denmark a great success.

Impact for Austria

Economic background details or specific reasons for the withdrawal in the five countries have not been publicly stated by Uber so far. Insiders see the planned merger with the German competitor as the cause.

Consumers in Austria are initially little affected by the decision. Those who already use delivery services through other providers do not have to expect any restrictions.

The decision does not affect Uber's core service, namely ride-hailing. It remains available in Austria.

Reactions and open questions

The "Financial Times" based its account on informed individuals from the company's circle. An official confirmation from Uber regarding the withdrawn plans was initially pending.

What happens next with the remaining expansion plans remains open for now. Should the takeover of Delivery Hero go through, the strategy in Europe could change fundamentally.

For the European market, the move means a withdrawal from several countries in which Uber Eats had recently been seen as a growth opportunity. Competitors such as Lieferando or Wolt could keep the field to themselves in Austria for now.