Uber partners Maruti to provide skill training to 30,000 by 2018 - launches UberSHAAN to create one million livelihood opportunities by 2018

Uber and Maruti Suzuki will provide access to skill development and driver training to the unskilled as part of a four-month pilot in Delhi/NCR, Hyderabad and Chennai. The two companies will jointly organize driver training and on-boarding programmes. Based on learning from the pilot, the partnership will be expanded to other cities across India. R S Kalsi, Executive Director (Marketing and Sales) at Maruti Suzuki said, they expect to train 30,000 drivers under this programme. “Our partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation and Maruti Suzuki will be instrumental in realising our goal by 2018,” said Uber India President Amit Jain.

The initiative will also help trained drivers receive commercial licenses, vehicle financing and leasing solutions and for create livelihood opportunities for one million people by 2018. Under the ‘Uber Shaan’ initiative, the skilled drivers will be eligible to join the Uber platform. The transportation app Uber plans to rapidly scale India’s entrepreneurial base. Uber has about four lakh drivers on their platform in India, which is its second largest market in terms of trips taken after the US. The Uber Partner Support Centres will also provide soft skills training to existing and new driver partners in collaboration with NSDC. Uber will support driver training, delivered through NSDC’s training centres nationwide that promote skill building in the automobile sector. Smartphone app that connects riders with drivers at the push of a button Uber has announced the launch of UberSHAAN, an initiative aimed at creating one million livelihood opportunities as micro-entrepreneurs in India by 2018. The initiative will also aim to help trained drivers receive commercial licenses and support the entrepreneurial ambitions of licensed drivers through vehicle financing and leasing solutions.

"Through concerted efforts towards skill development and entrepreneurship building, we can mobilise the untapped potential of millions of Indians and support them in their journey towards self reliance and micro entrepreneurship," said Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Rajiv Pratap Rudy. "In this context, UberSHAAN's vision to skill and empower one million individuals in the next two years and help them turn micro-entrepreneurs is creditable. We extend whole hearted support to this initiative and encourage people to benefit from this scheme," added Rudy. "With UberSHAAN, our plan is to rapidly scale India's entrepreneurial base and generate one million livelihood opportunities on the Uber platform by 2018. Our partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation and Maruti Suzuki will be instrumental in realising our goal by 2018," said President Uber India, Amit Jain. As part of the MoU signed with Maruti, the two will conduct a four month pilot in Delhi/NCR, Hyderabad and Chennai and organize driver training and on-boarding programmes, which is required to join the Uber platform. On completion of training and receipt of a commercial license, Uber will also be supporting the journey of successful candidates by offering vehicle financing and leasing solutions. Based on learning's from the pilot, the partnership will be expanded to other cities across India. "We are excited to partner with Uber India to train individuals in safe driving and provide micro-entrepreneurship opportunities to them. We expect to train 30,000 drivers under this programme. Through this partnership, we will be able to promote safe and responsible driving while facilitating meaningful livelihood for youth," said Executive Director (Marketing and Sales) Maruti Suzuki, R S Kalsi.