These Are The Cities Where You Can Now Request A Spanish-Speaking Uber Driver

An UBER application is shown as cars drive by in Washington, DC on March 25, 2015. Uber said it was ramping up safety in response to rape allegations against a driver in India and growing concerns about background checks for operators of the popular ride-sharing service. In other cities where Uber operates, critics had complained that a lack of licensing and background checks of drivers could imperil those who use the service. AFP PHOTO/ ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS (Photo credit should read Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images)

“Tu Uber está llegando.”

This is the phrase that will notify users of the new UberESPAÑOL that their ride is arriving, in lieu of the app's emblematic “Your Uber is arriving now” notification. The private car and rideshare company launched the new program on Tuesday, allowing users in six U.S. locations to request Spanish-speaking drivers.

In a blog post, Uber said the service is now available in Chicago, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Phoenix and Tucson.

"We are always looking at ways to make the app more seamless and user-friendly,” Uber spokesperson Tatiana Winograd told NBC News. “And for those in our community who speak Spanish, UberESPAÑOL allows them to connect to drivers who speak Spanish so they can get to where they need to go in the language of their choice.”

A company spokesperson told Fusion that Uber created the Spanish-language service after receiving requests for it from both users and drivers. UberESPAÑOL is currently only available with UberX, the service's low-cost option.

As of 2013, there were over 54 million Hispanics in the U.S., about 17 percent of the country’s total population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Hispanics have an overwhelming presence in southern California, specifically in the Los Angeles county area, where they made up 48.3 percent of the population in 2013.

Uber has not made any announcements about rolling out the program in New York City, where Hispanics make up over 28.6 percent of the population. The company launched in New York City in 2011. Uber cars officially outnumbered the city’s iconic yellow taxis as of March, according to The Associated Press. But because yellow cabs tend to have more than one driver and are on the road for longer periods of time, taxi rides continue to outnumber Uber rides in the Big Apple.

Before You Go

Because lots of Americans speak Spanish

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As of 2012, approximately 38.3 million people in the U.S. spoke Spanish at home, according to the U.S. Census. That's 13 percent of U.S. residents ages 5 and older.

Because a bunch of our states, cities and streets have Spanish names

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Nevada, Colorado, Los Angeles, Florida, Montana, San Antonio, California and Sacramento are all Spanish words or names. The list goes on and on.

Because Spanish was spoken in what is today the United States before English

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Spanish colonizers first set foot in the area that would become the United States in the 16th century, founding a permanent colony in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1565 -- well before the English set up Jamestown. All European languages, on the other hand, are more foreign to North America than Karuk, Cherokee, Natchez or the scores of other languages of the indigenous peoples of the continent.

Because the U.S. has more Spanish speakers than Spain

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In 2013, the U.S. had the 5th largest Spanish-speaking population in the world. However, in 2015 it moved up to the number two spot behind Mexico.

Because it’s the most-spoken language on the island of Puerto Rico

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And Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory whose inhabitants are U.S. citizens.

Because the U.S. does not have an official language

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English is not the official language of the United States. Though several states across the nation have adopted legislation establishing English as their official language, no such legislation has been adopted on a federal level.

Because even English-speaking people use Spanish words on a daily basis

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Words like "cafeteria," "vanilla," and even "ranch" are derived from Spanish.

Because this Spanish-language network is a ratings beast

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Spanish broadcast network Univision regularly outperforms English-language networks, especially on a local level. Univision stations in Los Angeles, New York, Houston and Sacramento closed out the May 2016 sweeps period as the most-watched early and late local newscasts among Adults ages 18-49, regardless of language.

Because Spanish is becoming the second-most important language in politics

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Even candidates vying for political office recognize the fact that many of the nation's citizens speak Spanish, many releasing Spanish-language ads in an effort to connect with voters.

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