San Francisco: Uber has disclosed 3000 sexual assaults in US rides last year in its long-awaited safety report, released amid widespread criticism of its safety practices and pressure to increase its transparency over the issue.

In the lengthy report, which divides sexual misconduct into 21 categories, Uber said it recorded 235 rapes and thousands more cases of assault. It was the first time the company has released those numbers, and it did so amid heightened scrutiny from lawmakers, advocacy groups and consumers to improve the safety of the app's use.

Experts note that sexual assault is a chronically underreported problem, however, and that the figures were likely to undercount the true prevalence of sexual offences.

Uber has been criticised over its safety practices and perceived stonewalling of law enforcement on sexual offences. Its rival Lyft has faced lawsuits from at least 34 women in San Francisco who allege they were raped or sexually assaulted on the app.