Uber has spent years moving people from point A to B. Now, it seems ready to tackle a different part of the transportation business — parking. Reports suggest the ride-hailing giant is considering acquiring SpotHero, a digital parking marketplace.
SpotHero helps drivers find, book, and pay for parking in advance, by the hour, day, or even month. Since launching in 2011, it has operated in over 400 U.S. cities and served more than 100 million customers. At first glance, parking might seem mundane, but for urban drivers, it’s one of the biggest friction points slowing down trips. That’s exactly the problem Uber could be looking to solve.
Details on the price aren’t clear yet, though the implications could be significant. SpotHero’s API lets other companies integrate real-time parking availability into their systems. Uber could use this to help drivers find spots faster, while giving its robotaxi fleet better data for pickups and drop-offs. Fewer parking headaches could translate into smoother journeys, less time wasted, and more satisfied customers, small changes that could make a big difference for urban mobility.
Kelechi Edeh
This potential acquisition also fits a broader pattern in Uber’s growth strategy. In 2020, it bought Careem for $3.1 billion to expand into the MENA region. That same year, it acquired Postmates in $2.68 billion deal, merging food delivery operations and expanding its merchant and courier networks. Uber has shown it isn’t just chasing rides; it’s looking to own more layers of urban transport.
For riders, integrating parking into the ride-hailing experience could mean quicker pickups and drop-offs. For drivers, it could mean less circling for spots and more earnings per trip. Competitors like Lyft may now face pressure to expand beyond rides alone, into parking, tolls, charging, or even public transport integrations. Urban mobility is increasingly about reducing friction, and Uber appears to be positioning itself at the center of that shift.
If the deal goes through, it could redefine what a ride-hailing platform does. Parking is one of those small, overlooked parts of a trip, but controlling it could give Uber an edge, especially as robotaxis scale. The line between a ride-hailing service and a full-service urban mobility platform would blur, covering rides, parking, and beyond. In cities where every minute counts, removing friction in these small ways may be the next big advantage.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
