Uber now gives you the option to choose a Spanish-speaking driver
On-demand transportation company Uber now lets Los Angeles passengers decide if they want a bilingual driver who can speak Spanish.
The option, UberESPAÑOL, launched in L.A., Orange County and Chicago on Tuesday after an initial roll-out earlier this year in San Diego, Phoenix and Tucson. It comes at no extra cost to passengers, who can make the selection by pressing a button inside the Uber app indicating they want a driver who can speak Spanish.
The move caters to Southern California’s large Latino population and gives Uber a way to tap into a growing market.
“Latinos now account for over 53 million people in the United States and almost 40% of California,†said Ruben Guerra, chairman of Latin Business Assn. “With that tremendous growth comes a more prominent seat at the business table.â€
Guerra described the launch of UberESPAÑOL as a “progressive approach†to providing members of the Latino community more opportunities to “conduct their business in the language in which they feel most comfortable.â€
The Spanish language option is limited to UberX, which is Uber’s low-end service where drivers use their personal vehicles to transport passengers.
Twitter: @traceylien
