Cargo & Uber Form Exclusive Alliance
NEW YORK — Cargo, the startup that serves as an in-vehicle general store, is entering an exclusive global partnership with Uber.
The moves come as Cargo expands on the West Coast to San Francisco and Los Angeles.
"Because of companies like Uber, people spend more passenger time in cars than ever before," said Cargo founder and CEO Jeff Cripe. "This opened the door for Cargo to create an unparalleled level of convenience for a generation of people on the move, and our partnership with Uber will play an important role in making that vision reality."
As part of the deal, drivers can register with Cargo and pick up a box at select driver onboarding and support centers, known as Uber Greenlight Hubs, in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Cargo customizes products by market, season and time of day. San Francisco and Los Angeles riders can enjoy items like Happy Plugs earbuds, Kellogg's Nutri-Grain bars, RXBAR protein bars, Mars Wrigley Confectionery EXTRA Chewy Mints, Patchology Flashpatch lip and eye masks, Unilever/Pepsi's Tazo Iced Tea and Winky Lux Matcha Lip Balm.
Brands partner with Cargo to reach millions of riders through in-car sampling and retail, according to Cargo. Riders can order products for free and for purchase on the company's website from their smartphone while on the go.
"It's always a pleasant surprise when you're in an Uber and the driver offers you a bottle of water or a piece of gum, but up to this point these perks have usually been on the driver's dime. Cargo took note of this and created an innovative model that aims to bring new value to riders and drivers," said Keith Hensley, business development lead at Uber. "We're looking forward to working with Cargo to develop and scale in a way that makes the most sense for our customers."
New York-based Cargo's platform enables passengers in rideshare vehicles to order snacks, gum, premium electronics, cosmetics and personal care items on their smartphone while in transit. It services passengers in New York, Boston, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Atlanta and Dallas/Fort Worth.
