In a decisive move to solidify its dominance in the competitive quick-commerce sector, Uber has reached a definitive agreement to acquire the Turkish operations of Getir for approximately $335 million. The deal represents a significant pivot for the San Francisco-based ride-hailing giant as it seeks to capture a larger share of the grocery and convenience delivery market in strategic international hubs. This acquisition comes at a time when the rapid-delivery industry is undergoing a period of intense consolidation after years of aggressive growth and high cash burn.
Getir, which was once valued at nearly $12 billion during the height of the delivery boom, has recently faced significant headwinds. The company had been struggling with high operational costs and a shifting macroeconomic environment that forced it to retreat from several major European markets, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands. By selling its domestic business in Türkiye to Uber, Getir is effectively offloading its most established infrastructure to a partner with the capital and logistics network necessary to scale the operation further.
For Uber, the acquisition is less about entering a new market and more about deepening its existing footprint. The company has successfully integrated various delivery platforms under its Uber Eats umbrella over the last few years, and the addition of Getir’s Turkish assets provides a turnkey solution for rapid grocery fulfillment. Industry analysts suggest that Uber is betting on the long-term viability of the ‘instant needs’ model, provided it can be integrated into a larger ecosystem of services that share the same pool of drivers and technological resources.
Under the terms of the deal, Uber will gain access to Getir’s extensive network of dark stores and its established brand recognition among Turkish consumers. This move allows Uber to bypass the significant hurdles typically associated with building a logistics network from scratch in a foreign market. Türkiye represents an attractive demographic for digital services, with a young, tech-savvy population that has already embraced mobile-first delivery solutions. Uber’s leadership has indicated that this purchase aligns with their broader strategy of becoming the go-to app for all transportation and delivery needs globally.
The transaction is currently awaiting regulatory approval from Turkish competition authorities. If cleared, the merger will likely lead to a more streamlined delivery experience for users, although it also raises questions about the future of competition in the region. Smaller local players may find it increasingly difficult to compete with the combined technological prowess and marketing budget of an Uber-backed entity. For Getir, the sale provides a necessary injection of liquidity and a chance to refocus its remaining resources on its core technology and restructured business model.
This acquisition highlights the ongoing trend of consolidation within the tech sector, where larger, profitable entities are absorbing smaller specialized players that have faced funding challenges. As the era of cheap capital comes to a close, companies like Uber are using their strong balance sheets to acquire market share and physical assets at a fraction of their peak valuations. The success of this venture will depend heavily on Uber’s ability to maintain Getir’s operational efficiency while integrating it into the global Uber platform without alienating the existing loyal customer base in Türkiye.
