The option, called Women Preferences, lets women riders choose a female driver in advance or set a preference in the app to increase the chances of being matched with one. Female drivers can also choose to pick up only women passengers if they prefer.
Uber said the feature was tested in parts of the U.S. last year and feedback showed women felt safer and more comfortable using the service.
The company said the update responds to requests from female drivers and riders who wanted more control over their travel and work options. Currently, about one in five Uber drivers in the U.S. are women, though the number varies by city.
However, the rollout comes as the company faces a class-action lawsuit in California, where two drivers argue the feature discriminates against men and could give female drivers access to more passengers.
Uber has asked a court to move the case to private arbitration and said the feature does not violate California’s anti-discrimination law, arguing it supports public safety.
Another ride-sharing company, Lyft, is also facing a similar lawsuit over a feature that allows riders and drivers to prioritise matches with women and non-binary users.
Uber already offers the women-matching option in more than 40 countries for drivers and seven countries for riders, including Spain, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia.
