Uber Employees Take The Wheel For A Day

‘Behind the Wheel’ initiative witnesses strong participation across cities

On a usual weekday morning in Chennai, as the city’s autos zipped through traffic, Manikandan Thangnaratnam, Senior Director – Mobility & Platforms at Uber, was behind the wheel of an Uber Auto. Wearing a crisp white shirt and a wide grin, he spent hours ferrying riders across the city – this time not as a tech leader building the platform but as a driver using it.

“It was a great experience to see the software in action and watch how it matches riders and drivers at scale,” he said. “It was fascinating to see how technology brings a familiar travel mode like autos right to people’s doorsteps.”

Across India, hundreds of Uber employees swapped their desks for driver seats during Employee Driving Week – a recurring initiative that encourages employees to step into the shoes of drivers to understand their experience, challenges, and aspirations.

In Gurugram, Gaurav Sharda, Head – Premium Categories, Uber India & South Asia, took the wheel of an Uber Black. “Every rider I met loved the comfort and quality of the experience,” he shared. “They notice the little things – the spotless car, the courteous greeting, the quiet ride. It reinforced for me how much trust and consistency matter when people choose Uber Black.”

In Bengaluru, Shiva Shailendran, Director – Consumer Growth, Uber India & South Asia, drove an Uber Auto, experiencing firsthand what makes Uber the preferred choice for more than 1.4 million drivers across India. “When you’re in the driver’s seat, you see the platform differently – the joy that the buzz of a new trip brings, the anxiety of waiting for rides, navigating unknown roads, and the pride drivers take in providing a good experience.”

In Delhi NCR, Vishal Tandon, Senior Manager – Earner Experience, Uber India & South Asia, chose an Uber Bike. Between conversations with riders about safety and convenience, he observed how crucial on-ground infrastructure is. “Riders really value Uber Bike during busy hours – it’s quick and affordable,” he said. “Two of my trips ended at metro stations, reaffirming the importance of last-mile connectivity.” He also heard repeatedly about the need for accessible public washrooms for drivers.

These first-hand experiences often lead to tangible product improvements. Uber’s ‘upfront destination’ and ‘upfront payment’ features – which allow drivers to see the drop location, trip fare, and mode of payment before accepting a ride – were inspired by insights gathered from earlier employee driving weeks.

This year too, employees returned with fresh ideas that could shape the next round of updates on the Uber app. Gaurav met a passenger at Delhi Airport who suggested making the pick-up experience for Uber Black as premium as the ride itself. Vishal’s rides highlighted the need for better driver infrastructure and improved access to safety gear such as high-quality helmets. Manikandan met a passenger who wished he could reserve an auto just like he reserves a car.

As Manikandan puts it, “Such experiences often serve as a reminder that the next wave of innovation often comes directly from riders and drivers.” Each journey offered lessons that go beyond dashboards or data – showing every Uber employee that behind every line of code or product tweak lies a real human experience on the road