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Changes In Uber Comfort And Black Categories Surprise Drivers Who Bought New Cars To Work In Premium Modes, After The Exclusion Of Hybrid SUVs And Recent Launches, With Reports Of Financial Losses And Replanning Of Work Routines.
Uber Updated The Eligibility Rules For The Comfort And Black Categories And Removed Recently Launched Models In Brazil.
Among The Excluded Are Renault Kardian And Citroën Basalt, A Decision That Generated Strong Reactions From Drivers On Social Media.
According To A Report Published By The UOL Portal, The Measure Caused Outrage Especially Among Drivers Who Recently Invested In Vehicles To Meet The Higher Categories.
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The Changes Will Take Effect For Uber Black On January 5, 2026.
For The Comfort, The Renault Logan Will No Longer Be Accepted Starting July 5, 2026.
Immediate Reaction Of Drivers
The Announcement Surprised Professionals Who Recently Invested In Vehicles Aiming At The Premium Categories.
Douglas Silva, A Driver In Rio De Janeiro, Bought A Basalt Zero-KM At The End Of June With The Idea Of Attending To His Family And Operating “All Categories Of Both Apps,” Also Mentioning 99.
He Reports That Colleagues “Had Already Made Payments And Asked For Their Money Back At The Dealership.”
In His Case, The Financing Was Contracted Three Months Ago: “I’ve Only Paid Three Installments And Still Owe 45,” He Says.
According To UOL’s Investigation, Several Drivers Claim To Have Been Caught By Surprise And Report Significant Losses With Long-Term Financing Specifically Made To Meet Uber’s Requirements.
Another Account Is From Jonas Silva, With Nearly Five Years On The Platform And Over 17 Thousand Rides.
He Acquired The Basalt At Launch To Work In Black, Waited Three Months For Delivery, And Financed Over 60 Months.
“I Had No Idea This Was Going To Happen. It’s A New Car, With Good Internal Space And Trunk, And Everyone Praises It,” He Says.
With The Exclusion, He Anticipates He Will Prioritize Rides On 99, Where Plus “Comes Closer To Uber Black.”
What Changes In Uber Black
Starting January 5, 2026, Seven Models Will No Longer Be Accepted In Black: Renault Kardian, Citroën Basalt, Caoa Chery Tiggo 3X, Peugeot e-2008, Hyundai Kona Hybrid, And JAC J3 Turin And JAC iEV40.
The List Affects Compact SUVs, Including Hybrids And Electric Vehicles, Which Drivers Had Been Considering Due To Lower Operating Costs And A Perception Of Comfort.
The Newspaper UOL Also Pointed Out That The Measure Was Seen As Contradictory By Drivers, Since Some Of These Models Stand Out Precisely For Their Performance And Level Of Comfort, Characteristics Valued In The Black Segment.
According To The Company, The Update Reflects “User Research And Market Evolution Analysis” To Align The Fleet With The Most Relevant Aspects Highlighted In Premium Categories.
Financial Impact And Forced Decisions
For Those Who Recently Bought A Vehicle, The Change Alters The Return Calculation.
Douglas Silva States That He Put Down R$ 30 Thousand For The Basalt, Resulting From Family Savings.
He Is Considering Negotiating With The Dealership To Return The Car Or To Exchange It For An “Even Simpler And More Expensive” Model Than The Current One, To Meet The Rules Again.
Meanwhile, Eduardo Guimarães, With Over One Thousand Rides On Black, Acquired A Basalt Four Months Ago For R$ 117 Thousand “Thinking Of Black.”
He Says He Analyzed And Researched Before The Purchase And That “There Was No Indication” That The Model Would Be Excluded From The Category.
Now, He Evaluates That Driving In Comfort Would Lower His Daily Target And Considers Abandoning The Platform If He Cannot Maintain Profitability.
Comfort Will Also Have Changes
In Comfort, The Most Sensitive Change Is The Removal Of The Renault Logan, Valid From July 5, 2026.
Until Then, Criteria Of Year Of Manufacture By Model Will Remain In Effect, But The Company Indicates That The Base Of Accepted Vehicles Will Go Through Adjustments To Preserve A Minimum Standard Of Perceived Comfort By Passengers.
At The Same Time, Uber States That The Measures Come From Ongoing Evaluation Of User Preferences, Involving Factors Such As Internal Space, Finishing, And Convenience.
UOL Also Reported That, In Addition To The Review Of Comfort, Uber Is Evaluating Adjustments In Other Categories To Keep Up With The Renovation Of The Brazilian Automotive Market, Especially Given The Rise Of Hybrid And Electric Vehicles.
UberX Will Depend On Local Rules
For UberX, The Company Informed That The Impact Varies According To Municipal Regulations.
In Cities That Set A Maximum Age Of 10 Years For App Transport Vehicles — Examples Include Brasília, Campinas, Fortaleza, And São Paulo — There Will Be A Block For Cars Model Year 2015 Or Older.
The Policy, The Company Says, Aims To Keep The Fleet Within A Renewal Cycle Compatible With Safety, Emissions, And Comfort Requirements.
Why Are New Models Excluded
The Exclusion Of Recent Launches Draws Attention Because, In Theory, They Meet Technology And Efficiency Requirements.
Uber Did Not Detail The Technical Parameters Individually, But Claims That The Review Focuses On Attributes Valued By Customers In The Higher Categories.
Among Them, The Usual Weights Are Level Of Finishing, Onboard Silence, Performance, Trunk Space, And Convenience Items.
Even If Some Of These Vehicles Offer Fuel Economy Or Electrification, The Platform’s Final Assessment Prioritizes The Perceived Experience In The Black Segment And, To A Lesser Extent, In Comfort.
Alternatives Considered By Drivers
With Less Than Three Months Until The New Rule In Black Takes Effect, Some Drivers Are Trying To Renegotiate Purchases Or Redirect Their Operations.
Some, Like Jonas Silva, Are Considering Shifting Their Focus To 99 In Categories With Rates Closer To Black.
Others Are Seeking An Exchange For Accepted Models, Even With Financial Loss, To Avoid Compromising Their Income.
There Are Also Those Who Opt To Stay In Comfort, Although They Report That Profitability Is Lower Than That Of Black, Which Would Require A Greater Volume Of Rides To Maintain Revenue.
According To UOL, The Reaction On Social Media Has Grown In Recent Days, With Groups Of Drivers Exchanging Information About Possible Alternatives And Discussing The Viability Of Continuing To Invest In Expensive Vehicles In Light Of The Company’s Constant Policy Changes.
What Uber Says
In A Statement, The Company Affirms That The Update Of The List “Was Determined Based On Aspects Identified By Users As Important When Requesting Rides In The Comfort And Black Categories.”
For Comfort, It Confirms The Removal Of The Logan In July 2026.
Regarding UberX, It Emphasizes That The Compliance With Municipal Age Limits Will Imply Restrictions On Older Cars In Cities With A 10-Year Rule.
The Platform Has Not Yet Commented On Compensation Mechanisms For Those Who Recently Purchased Vehicles That Will Be Excluded From Black.
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