Uber Uber started four years ago and now operates in 250 cities worldwide, including Zurich, Basel, Geneva and Lausanne. Valued at $40billion (CHF39 billion), Uber does not own cars or employ drivers, but connects passengers and vehicles via its app, offering what the firm says is much-needed competition for the taxi industry. Its UberPop service is described as a "car-sharing solution for urban areas", which lets non-professional drivers become chauffeurs-for-hire at rates far lower than normal taxi rides.