Hucknall taxi company Ideal Cars has partnered with Uber to become one of the operators listed for Nottingham customers under the Local Cab section of the app.

Anyone opening the Uber app in the area can select the Local Cab option. Local Cab trips are booked directly with local operators, and all subsequent customer support is provided by them.

Ideal Cars was added to the list of operators from yesterday (Thursday 3 November) via the latest version of the Uber app. This followed on from previous launches with Central Cars and Southside Cars in April 2022 and Nottingham Cars in September 2022.

Since the company's successful pilot of Local Cab last year, the product has launched in over 60 locations across the UK.

Uber is forming partnerships with local operators to meet growing demand for trips and extend the use of its app beyond the UK towns and cities in which it currently operates.

Speaking exclusively to Hucknall Nub News, Dale Thompson, Business Development Manager at Ideal Cars said: "It's massive for us. It's a big thing especially for our drivers. Obviously customers are going to book a taxi so why not be on that network alongside Uber and sort of jump on their success and reputation.

"It definitely increases our reach sort of beyond Hucknall to Kirkby and Annesley, Eastwood as well and Kimberley, it broadens our area of where we're going to be covering more often now we're on the Uber app."

The partnership with Uber also has the potential to create jobs at Ideal Cars as they anticipate an increased workload. However, they are keen to assure customers that it will not affect their ability to deliver the jobs they're committed to as these will be prioritised.

Mr Thompson added: "We're on the lookout for drivers with the current workload and we only anticipate it to get bigger and better with the Uber work coming in as well."

Booking through the Uber app does not affect the cut that Ideal take as their drivers still receive what they normally would if the booking was made directly through them.

The aim is to increase their chances of being booked by customers not familiar with local taxi firms in Hucknall and the surrounding areas.

Mr Thompson used people staying at Mour Hotel on Annesley Business Park as an example of potential new customers.

He said: "People who stay there and if they're from somewhere like London they won't know Ideal Cars but they all know Uber, to be on that (the app) it opens up the door for those customers."

Andrew Brem, General Manager at Uber UK: "Nottingham is one of a growing number of towns and cities in England where riders can access both UberX and Local Cab in the same app. This will help maximize earnings opportunities for drivers while giving passengers in Nottingham more choice, meaning that everyone will benefit. We're looking forward to extending Local Cab in more UK towns and cities soon."

More information about Local Cab can be found by clicking here.