Uber is hiring a manager to develop and test a global driver subscription strategy. As competition in the ride-hailing market intensifies, this move suggests the company may deepen its push toward subscription-based models for drivers.

A recent job posting shows the company is seeking a product manager based in New York to design and implement new subscription packages for drivers and delivery workers. The role also involves building global testing and scaling strategies while assessing how the model might evolve based on competitor responses.

This initiative indicates Uber may be exploring alternatives to its long-standing commission-based structure, under which the company takes a percentage of each fare. Following rapid expansion by local rival Rapido, Uber has already introduced a flat-fee system for drivers in India. In the United States, ride-hailing app Empower has gained traction by offering rides about 20% cheaper than Uber or Lyft, partly by having drivers adopt subscription plans instead of per-trip commissions.

Pricing pressures across the industry may also influence these experiments.

According to data from gig economy analytics firm Gridwise, ride-hailing prices increased by 9.6% in December 2025 compared to the same period last year, while platform fees per trip rose by 33%. During the same period, drivers' total earnings per trip increased by 3.6%. The report also noted that around 60% of consumers said they have reduced their use of ride-hailing services due to price increases, while 55% said they would cut back further if fares rise again. These trends may affect how companies like Uber evaluate new driver payment models.