Sustained crude price spike from US-Iran tensions threatens ride-hailing unit economics, with fuel making up 40% of driver opex. A 25-30% fare hike could trigger a 40% demand drop on a 20% cost rise, accelerating shifts to shared mobility, EV two-wheelers and pooled enterprise transport across Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru and Chennai.

Inc42 · 5/24/2026, 4:58:06 PM