Uber Technologies Inc. is poised for a significant expansion of its food delivery operations across Europe, targeting seven new national markets in a bid to capture an additional $1 billion in gross bookings over the next three years. According to a report from the Financial Times, the company will launch its Uber Eats service in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Norway, the Czech Republic, Greece, and Romania later this year.
The strategic push underscores the central role delivery plays in Uber's long-term growth strategy, alongside its core ride-hailing business. Susan Anderson, Uber's global head of delivery, told the Financial Times that the company aims to "raise the bar, shake things up and deliver better value across the category." Gross bookings represent the total value of all orders placed on the platform before any deductions for fees, driver payouts, or incentives.
Investors, however, are weighing the potential costs associated with this aggressive expansion. Uber's stock closed down 1.7% on Friday, February 14, 2026, as the market assessed the near-term financial impact of entering competitive new markets. Breaking into established regions often requires substantial upfront investment in marketing, consumer incentives, and partner recruitment, which can pressure profit margins in the short term.
Adding to the period of transition, Uber's Chief Financial Officer Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah is set to depart the company on February 16. He will be succeeded by Balaji Krishnamurthy, according to a recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Leadership changes in the finance department often lead to heightened scrutiny from investors, particularly during periods of strategic investment and expansion.
The European delivery landscape is intensely competitive. Uber will face off against well-established players including Wolt, which is owned by U.S.-based DoorDash Inc., along with Deliveroo and Just Eat Takeaway.com. Success will hinge on Uber's ability to gain market share without engaging in a prolonged and costly price war, which could erode margins even as order volume increases.
In a separate but related move, Uber announced on February 9 that it has reached an agreement with Mubadala Investment Company to acquire Getir's delivery business in Türkiye. The deal is pending regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. "Uber is committed to investing in Türkiye for the long term," stated CEO Dara Khosrowshahi in a release from Uber Investor Relations.
Market participants are now looking ahead to the post-holiday trading session. U.S. equity markets were closed on Monday, February 17, for Washington's Birthday, delaying the market's full reaction to the weekend's expansion news. When trading resumes on Tuesday, analysts and traders will seek more details on the rollout timeline, initial market traction, and the company's strategy for achieving growth without excessive discounting.
The key question for Uber's management is whether this European expansion is primarily a user and order growth initiative, or a precursor to heightened competition on fees and service standards. The scale of promotional spending and rider/driver incentives in the new markets will likely provide the clearest signal of the company's strategic intent beyond the headline country announcements.
