Uber’s European Growth Strategy Hits a Snag

In February, Uber announced its ambitious goal to expand into seven new European markets by 2026. However, the Financial Times now reveals that five of those launches have been put on hold, impacting countries like Austria, Norway, and Greece.

Uber seemed to confirm this decision to the FT, stating that its recent ventures in Finland and Denmark have been a “huge success.” As a result, the company intends to “focus on maintaining the momentum” in its existing markets.

Another likely reason for this pause is Uber’s ongoing efforts to acquire Delivery Hero, a European company that rejected Uber’s €10 billion takeover bid in May.

It appears Uber is still hopeful about completing the deal. An industry source suggested that postponing further expansion could help address antitrust issues regarding the potential acquisition, especially since Delivery Hero operates delivery services in many of the targeted areas.