Uber has executed a significant expansion of its business in Turkey through a $700 million cash deal to acquire an 85% controlling stake in Trendyol Go, a leading Istanbul-based online meal and grocery delivery platform. This acquisition instantly solidifies Uber Eats’ market presence in Turkey, a market where, until now, Uber had solely operated its ride-hailing services.
The timing of the announcement is noteworthy, with Uber preparing to issue its latest quarterly earnings report. Investors and analysts will scrutinize this transaction closely, particularly in light of concerns about slowing consumer spending linked to tariffs imposed by President Trump. Uber has recently demonstrated caution in its global strategies, notably when it withdrew its $950 million proposal to purchase Delivery Hero’s Foodpanda business in Taiwan.
Uber, increasingly active on multiple fronts, has also been engaged in numerous autonomous vehicle partnerships across its ride-hailing, delivery, and freight businesses—a clear indication of its broader ambitions beyond traditional service areas.
Trendyol Go operates under the umbrella of Trendyol Group, a prominent e-commerce player in Turkey, majority-owned by Alibaba. In 2024, Trendyol Go processed over 200 million orders, generating approximately $2 billion in gross bookings—a substantial 50% increase compared to the previous year. The company currently connects more than 90,000 restaurants and employs around 19,000 couriers across its network.
The deal, subject to closing conditions, is expected to be finalized during the second half of 2025. According to a company statement, existing Trendyol Go users will continue to access the app even after the transition, with Uber planning to integrate select key technological capabilities from Uber Eats into Trendyol’s service in the coming years.
The purchase also underscores increasing competitive pressures facing Uber on its home turf. Earlier this year, Uber filed a legal action against its primary U.S. rival, DoorDash, over alleged anti-competitive practices—a case DoorDash has asked the courts to dismiss. In response to the rising competition, DoorDash itself has been aggressively moving forward, announcing major expansions into Europe via its own acquisitions of Deliveroo from the U.K. for $3.86 billion and SevenRooms for $1.2 billion.
