CHICAGO (PRWEB) September 09, 2019
Uber today announced the opening of its new office in Chicago, Illinois, with plans to invest over $200 million annually in the region through headcount, real estate investment, and other expenses. The new office will serve as Uber Freight HQ and Freight’s first engineering hub outside of San Francisco. Uber plans to hire 2,000 new employees in the region over the next three years, most of which will be dedicated to Freight. The new office will be located in The Old Main Post Office in the historic Chicago River area, for which the company has signed a 10-year lease.
SCALING UBER FREIGHT TEAM TO SUPPORT GLOBAL GROWTH AND INNOVATION
Uber Freight is one of the fastest-growing logistics companies in U.S. history. Over the last 27 months, Uber Freight has scaled across the U.S. and into Europe and, today, counts over 400,000 drivers in its carrier network and 1,000+ shippers as customers, including AB Inbev, Niagara Bottling, Land O’Lakes, and many more Fortune 500 companies.
“Trucking represents an enormous opportunity for Uber, and this milestone is a testament to our long-term commitment to our Freight business,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, Chief Executive Officer of Uber. “Chicago is the heart of America’s transportation and logistics industry, and there is no better place to open our dedicated Freight HQ. Uber has long recognized the incredible history, innovation, and talent that Chicago has to offer, and we’re excited about the thousands of new jobs our Freight business will help bring as we become one of the city’s largest technology employers.”
On the heels of its recent European expansion, Uber Freight is dedicated to growing its talented team to continue serving the carriers and shippers that keep our world moving. Uber Freight HQ will be focused on engineering operations, sales, and account management.
“Since the beginning, the team at Uber Freight has been made up of the best and brightest minds in technology and logistics, with major talent hubs in San Francisco and Chicago,” said Lior Ron, Head of Uber Freight. “We are thrilled to deepen our investment in Chicago, which is known for its logistics expertise. We are excited to bring on board thousands of team members to help build the future of logistics together with our growing list of customers and to support the massive growth trajectory we see for Uber Freight in this industry.”
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT AND JOB GROWTH IN CHICAGO
Chicago has long been a major international transportation hub and, in recent years, has established itself as a hotspot for global innovation and tech talent. The region’s world-class universities, research centers, and history of building America’s transportation systems have resulted in an exceptional talent pool today.
“Today’s announcement is a testament to Chicago’s place as both a global transit hub and world-class destination for the tech industry to grow and thrive,” said Mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot. “This investment also represents an important step in creating economic growth that is both dynamic and inclusive, with Uber leading by example through its collaboration with the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, helping ensure the jobs of the future are available for every resident, and no Chicagoan is left behind.”
“Uber’s commitment to Chicago is proof that the City and Illinois provides an unprecedented environment for the tech industry to thrive because of its unique mix of academia, business and government,” said Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, Juliana Stratton. “Uber’s expansion further cements our state’s reputation as one of the country’s top tech hubs.”
“I’m excited to welcome Uber’s Freight headquarters to Chicago. The addition of this headquarters adds to Chicagoland’s ever-growing innovation economy, making us truly the Silicone Prairie,” said Congresswoman, Robin Kelly (IL 2nd district).
Recognizing its strengths, Uber established Chicago as one of its key business centers early. Uber has created hundreds of thousands of work opportunities for rideshare drivers and food delivery couriers, and has hired over a thousand local Uber employees in Chicago. In the last three years alone, Uber has brought over $1 billion into the local economy through driver earnings.
“Today’s announcement from Uber further demonstrates Chicago’s position as a global leader in tech, innovation and talent,” said Andrea Zopp, President and Chief Executive Officer of World Business Chicago. “From major companies like Uber to rapidly growing start-ups, Chicago’s tech economy is creating new jobs for our incredibly diverse talent pool.”
This office opening signifies Uber’s commitment to deepening its economic investment in the region, with plans to tap Chicago’s talent pool to power Freight’s next chapter of growth and innovation. As Uber launches this new talent hub, the company is committed to helping grow the Chicago tech ecosystem. Uber’s new collaboration with the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (CCWP) will help with workplace diversity at Uber, as well as our efforts to leverage Uber’s platform to connect candidates from all parts of the city with local employers. Uber will start onboarding new employees in 2020 and will work with CCWP to develop a process for identifying potential candidates through their system.
“We are honored to be the first recipient of Uber Technologies’ Community Impact Initiative grant. With these funds we will decrease transportation barriers for people seeking work,” said Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Karin Norington-Reaves. “Additionally, we are pleased to serve as a source of untapped and diverse talent for the 2,000 jobs with Uber Freight. Whether in information technology, logistics, distribution or professional services, our clients have the drive and ability to successfully contribute to Uber’s labor force.”
About Uber
Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 10 billion trips later, we're building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new possibilities.
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