Uber Drivers in India Outearn Some Bankers. But for How Long?

  • Drivers say incentive payments have declined this year
  • India is Uber's largest market outside the U.S. geographically

Uber driver in Delhi.

Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg
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Sujas Kumar Singh, a 22-year-old school dropout who drives taxis in India’s capital, sees growing concern about falling earnings from Uber Technologies Inc.’s service in New Delhi.

Singh said Uber’s incentive payments -- a sum paid on top of each trip’s fare to woo drivers -- have dipped to as low as 125 rupees ($1.90) since May. That’s making it harder for some people to meet loan installments on vehicles purchased to work for the ride-hailing app. Uber spokesman Karun Arya said incentive payments are down across Indian cities.