Uber is making significant strides in Turkey with its recent acquisition of Trendyol Go, a prominent online meal and grocery delivery service based in Istanbul. The ride-hailing and delivery giant secured an 85% controlling stake in the company for approximately $700 million. This acquisition provides Uber with immediate market presence for Uber Eats in Turkey, where it previously operated solely as a ride-hailing service.
The announcement of this acquisition comes just ahead of Uber’s first-quarter earnings report, amidst concerns over future consumer spending, particularly with potential impacts from tariffs implemented by former President Trump projected for 2025. Investors will be eager for assurances regarding Uber’s growth trajectory, especially following its recent withdrawal from a $950 million bid for the Foodpanda business in Taiwan.
Beyond its Turkish expansion, Uber has been actively pursuing growth across various sectors, regularly unveiling new partnerships focused on autonomous vehicles in its ride-hailing, delivery, and freight operations. Trendyol Go, a subsidiary of the Trendyol Group—majority-owned by Alibaba—has demonstrated notable growth, reportedly handling over 200 million orders and achieving gross bookings of $2 billion in 2024, an impressive 50% increase compared to the previous year, with a network comprising more than 90,000 restaurants and 19,000 couriers.
The acquisition is anticipated to be finalised in the latter half of 2025. Upon completion, users will still be able to utilise the Trendyol Go app, but Uber plans to integrate key features from Uber Eats in the following years.
This move follows Uber’s ongoing battle for market share in the U.S., where it faces stiff competition from DoorDash. In February, Uber initiated legal proceedings against DoorDash, alleging anti-competitive practices, while DoorDash is pressing for the case to be dismissed.
Simultaneously, DoorDash has announced its own major acquisitions aimed at bolstering its presence in Europe, including the acquisition of the U.K.’s Deliveroo for $3.86 billion and SevenRooms for $1.2 billion.
Overall, Uber’s acquisition of Trendyol Go not only marks a strategic expansion into the Turkish food delivery market but also highlights the broader competitive landscape in which these delivery services are constantly evolving and attempting to secure greater market footholds.
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