Uber plans new tech centres in Bengaluru, Hyderabad

Bengaluru: Uber plans to open two new technology centres in Bengaluru and Hyderabad by the end of 2027 as the ride-hailing company expands its engineering and infrastructure footprint in India amid growing investments in artificial intelligence and backend systems.

The new facilities were announced by Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi during an internal town hall in Bengaluru on Thursday, according to people aware of the matter.

The Bengaluru facility is expected to have a seating capacity of about 5,000 across 1.1 million square feet, while the Hyderabad centre will accommodate around 4,600 employees in a 901,115 sft space, the people said.

The expansion comes as Uber deepens its India engineering presence beyond ride-hailing, with teams increasingly working on global product development, AI, infrastructure and platform engineering.

“India continues to be one of Uber’s most important markets globally, and our growing footprint reflects our long-term commitment to the country. We are steadily investing in our technology and engineering capabilities here, building world-class teams that are solving for mobility at scale,” an Uber spokesperson told TOI.

“Our tech centres in India play a critical role in developing products and platforms that serve millions of users around the world. As we expand, we remain focused on building from India, for India, and for the world,” the spokesperson added.

The planned expansion comes days after Uber announced a partnership with the Adani Group to build its first data centre in India, expected to go online in the fourth quarter of 2026. The company is also increasing hiring across generative AI, machine learning, autonomous vehicle operations and backend infrastructure functions.

India has emerged as a key engineering and product development base for global technology companies due to its large software talent pool and relatively lower operating costs compared with western markets. Uber currently employs around 3,500 people in India.

During the town hall, Khosrowshahi also discussed Uber’s growing focus on India’s two-wheeler market and the competitive intensity in the local ride-hailing sector, people aware of the discussions said. He noted that bike taxis had become one of Uber’s fastest-growing categories in the country even as the company faces aggressive competition from Rapido and Ola.