Back in February, Uber announced ambitious plans. To launch in seven new European markets in 2026 – but now Financial Times reports That five of these launches are on hold. Countries where launches have been halted include Austria, Norway and Greece.

Uber confirmed the decision to the FT, saying that recent launches in Finland and Denmark had been a “huge success”, so it now “wants to focus on continuing the momentum” in existing markets.

Another possible factor in the decision: Uber’s continued efforts to acquire Delivery Hero, a European company that Rejected Uber’s 10 billion euro takeover bid. In May

It looks like Uber is still hoping to make the deal a reality. An industry source said pausing on further expansion could help allay antitrust concerns about a potential acquisition, especially since Delivery Hero operates delivery services in several target countries.