According to exclusive information obtained by TechCrunch, Uber has initiated a pilot program for its Uber for Teens service, specifically designed for teenagers, in India.

The pilot program is currently operational in Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, and Mumbai, as confirmed by Uber. The company plans to expand this service to 35 cities in the coming weeks, including major metropolitan areas such as Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune.

The Uber for Teens service enables parents and guardians to create accounts for their teenage children, aged 13 to 17, allowing them to request rides directly from their own devices. This service also includes features such as live trip tracking and optional audio recording for added safety and security.

Guardians have the ability to book rides for their teenagers and establish monthly trip limits to restrict the number of trips taken. To utilize this service in India, guardians are required to add a credit or debit card to their Uber account, which then allows them to invite their teenager to join their family profile. Once the teenager is added, both the guardian and the teen can book rides using any preferred payment method, including cash.

As per the details outlined on a dedicated support page, teenagers are also permitted to bring fellow riders aged between 13 and 17 along with them. However, the precise mechanism for obtaining consent for this arrangement remains unclear.

This move arrives nearly two years after the initial launch of Uber for Teens in the United States and Canada. As Uber strives to expand its presence in the Indian market and compete with local rivals such as Ola, Rapido, Namma Yatri, and BluSmart, the introduction of this service marks a significant step forward.

Currently, Uber for Teens is available in approximately 50 countries worldwide, as stated in the company’s Q4 results statement released last month. In select markets, Uber has introduced separate profiles for teenagers, allowing them to make payments using their own preferred methods, including cash.

Over the past few months, Uber has introduced a range of features tailored to the evolving transportation needs of Indians. These include the ability to book concurrent rides, flexible pricing, and prepaid item pickups. Furthermore, the company recently discontinued commissions on auto-rickshaw bookings, instead implementing a daily subscription fee for drivers.