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Found 13 results

  1. BMW Group and Daimler AG are combining forces to take on rideshare and mobility services like Uber and Lyft. They will invest a combined 1 billion euro to build a new company with a multiprong approach. The new company will offer five services in a single portfolio. Eventually, they will offer an all-electric, self-driving fleet of vehicles that charge, park, and drive autonomously and interconnect with other forms of transport. The five apps include: Reach Now: Offers a range of options for users to get where they're going including a combination of public transport, car-sharing, ride-sharing, and bike rentals. Charge Now: A locator and payment app for public charging stations that work with multiple charge point operators. Park Now: A parking reservation, time management, payment, and ticketing system. Free Now: A ride-hailing service that also includes taxis, private chauffeurs, and eScooters. Share Now: A car-sharing app that allows customers to rent and pay for vehicles through the app. The combined apps already have over 60 million active customers in Europe and the Americas. The new company will be based in Berlin, Germany. BMW press release on Page 2 BMW Group and Daimler AG invest more than €1 billion in joint mobility services provider Berlin . The BMW Group and Daimler AG are pooling their mobility services to create a new global player providing sustainable urban mobility for customers. The two companies are investing more than €1 billion in total to develop and more closely intermesh their offerings for car-sharing, ride-hailing, parking, charging and multimodal transport. The cooperation comprises five joint ventures: REACH NOW for multimodal services, CHARGE NOW for charging, FREE NOW for taxi ride-hailing, PARK NOW for parking and SHARE NOW for car-sharing. “Our mobility services have developed a strong customer base and we are now taking the next strategic step. We are pooling the strength and expertise of 14 successful brands and investing more than €1 billion to establish a new player in the fast-growing market for urban mobility,” said Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “By creating an intelligent network of joint ventures, we will be able to shape current and future urban mobility and draw maximum benefit from the opportunities opened up by digitalization, shared services and the increasing mobility needs of our customers. Further cooperations with other providers, including stakes in startups and established players, are also a possible option.” “We are creating a leading global game changer. The 60 million customers we already have today will benefit from a seamlessly integrated, sustainable ecosystem of car-sharing, ride-hailing, parking, charging and multimodal transport services. We have a clear vision: these five services will merge ever more closely to form a single mobility service portfolio with an all-electric, self-driving fleet of vehicles that charge and park autonomously and interconnect with the other modes of transport,” said Harald Krüger, Management Board Chairman of BMW AG. “This service portfolio will be a key cornerstone in our strategy as a mobility provider. The cooperation is the perfect way for us to maximize our chances in a growing market, while sharing the investments.” The two companies’ mobility services have a wealth of experience and a strong customer base, with a combined total of over 60 million active customers to date. Building on their current, highly attractive product range and robust costumer base in the key regions of Europe and America, the companies will grow their global footprint as their existing mobility services combine to form five joint ventures: · REACH NOW offers more than 6.7 million users simple, direct access to a range of mobility services through a single multimodal platform. The REACH NOW apps will offer a range of options for getting from A to B, allowing users to book and pay directly for public transport and various other mobility options, such as car-sharing, ride-hailing and bike rentals. REACH NOW will be managed by Daniela Gerd tom Markotten as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), with Johannes Prantl as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). · CHARGE NOW is a service by Digital Charging Solutions GmbH (DCS), and its comprehensive charging network is a key contributor to zero-emissions driving. CHARGE NOW makes public charge points quick and easy to locate, use and pay for, both at home and abroad. Digital Charging Solutions GmbH develops simple, standardised access to public charge points for car manufacturers and fleet operators. With over 100,000 charge points across 25 countries, its white-label solutions are helping OEMs and fleet operators to realise their strategies for electric mobility. Customers benefit from cross-border access to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing charging networks, with over 250 charge point operators (CPOs) to date. · PARK NOW makes parking easier, on-street or off. The innovative digital parking service offers users the best possible parking solutions at a glance, allows them to reserve parking slots and manage their parking times, and enables ticketless entry and exit in public garages as well as cashless payment of parking fees. In addition, with the search for parking currently accounting for about 30 percent of the traffic on urban roads, PARK NOW is helping towns and cities to reduce traffic volumes, thereby helping to make city centres cleaner, healthier and more liveable. In Europe and North America over 30 million customers are already using the service in more than 1,100 cities. CHARGE NOW and PARK NOW are headed by Jörg Reimann as CEO, with Thomas Menzel as CFO. · FREE NOW offers a variety of mobility services including taxis, private chauffeurs with rental vehicles, and state-of-the-art e-scooters, all at the tap of a finger. One of the largest ride-hailing services in Europe and Latin America, FREE NOW already serves more than 21 million customers and over 250,000 drivers, who make a valuable contribution to the reduction of traffic in city centres. FREE NOW is headed by Marc Berg as CEO, with Sebastian Hofelich as CFO. · SHARE NOW is a free-floating car-sharing service that allows customers to rent and pay for vehicles by smartphone — anytime, anywhere. Its fleet will now be extended to incorporate a wider range of models and increase market coverage. More than 4 million customers in total currently use the fleet’s 20,000 vehicles in 31 cities around the world. Car-sharing increases vehicle utilization rates, helping to cut the overall number of cars on the roads in urban areas. Olivier Reppert has been appointed CEO of SHARE NOW, with Stefan Glebke as CFO. REACH NOW, CHARGE NOW, FREE NOW, PARK NOW and SHARE NOW represent innovative solutions by the BMW Group and Daimler AG for cities and municipalities seeking to make their traffic more efficient and sustainable. Thanks to their established services, the joint venture group already commands significant resources to support and systematically enhance sustainable urban mobility. “We are steering very clearly towards growth, and together we will continue to invest consistently in our joint mobility services. As well as linking in additional transport options, we want to reach out to even more people in towns and cities across the world, thereby improving the quality of urban life,” Krüger explained. The new mobility portfolio will be easy to access, intuitive to use, and will cater to customers’ needs. Its seamlessly integrated, sustainable ecosystem will make mobility more convenient — because cities are where the future of mobility will be decided. This is confirmed by the choice of Berlin as the base for the organization’s headquarters. A hub of creativity and innovation, the German capital is an attractive location for employees and upcoming talents. The next few years will see up to 1,000 new jobs created worldwide – including in Berlin and Germany. After an initial phase of investment and growth, the new joint venture group will offer attractive profitability, which will be crucial to its success. “As premium manufacturers, we have long been setting standards in the automotive industry and for our customers. In the premium vehicle business, we will continue to compete for customers. But our new portfolio for individual urban mobility on demand represents a logical extension to the value chain. Ultimately, we want to offer our customers as many options as possible for getting from A to B. In short, this is about driving, riding or being driven," said Zetsche. With their joint mobility services, the BMW Group and Daimler AG are responding to mobility needs of today and the future with a focus on cities. Digitalization is a key enabler as it creates new opportunities for individual mobility. Over time, customers will be able to use and experience additional mobility options from all-electric autonomous fleets that are available on demand, charge and park themselves, and connect with other modes of transport beyond road and rail. In the competition for the best urban mobility solution, the promise of safety and comfort by the two leading German premium OEMs provides the basis for this to happen. View full article
  2. BMW Group and Daimler AG are combining forces to take on rideshare and mobility services like Uber and Lyft. They will invest a combined 1 billion euro to build a new company with a multiprong approach. The new company will offer five services in a single portfolio. Eventually, they will offer an all-electric, self-driving fleet of vehicles that charge, park, and drive autonomously and interconnect with other forms of transport. The five apps include: Reach Now: Offers a range of options for users to get where they're going including a combination of public transport, car-sharing, ride-sharing, and bike rentals. Charge Now: A locator and payment app for public charging stations that work with multiple charge point operators. Park Now: A parking reservation, time management, payment, and ticketing system. Free Now: A ride-hailing service that also includes taxis, private chauffeurs, and eScooters. Share Now: A car-sharing app that allows customers to rent and pay for vehicles through the app. The combined apps already have over 60 million active customers in Europe and the Americas. The new company will be based in Berlin, Germany. BMW press release on Page 2 BMW Group and Daimler AG invest more than €1 billion in joint mobility services provider Berlin . The BMW Group and Daimler AG are pooling their mobility services to create a new global player providing sustainable urban mobility for customers. The two companies are investing more than €1 billion in total to develop and more closely intermesh their offerings for car-sharing, ride-hailing, parking, charging and multimodal transport. The cooperation comprises five joint ventures: REACH NOW for multimodal services, CHARGE NOW for charging, FREE NOW for taxi ride-hailing, PARK NOW for parking and SHARE NOW for car-sharing. “Our mobility services have developed a strong customer base and we are now taking the next strategic step. We are pooling the strength and expertise of 14 successful brands and investing more than €1 billion to establish a new player in the fast-growing market for urban mobility,” said Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “By creating an intelligent network of joint ventures, we will be able to shape current and future urban mobility and draw maximum benefit from the opportunities opened up by digitalization, shared services and the increasing mobility needs of our customers. Further cooperations with other providers, including stakes in startups and established players, are also a possible option.” “We are creating a leading global game changer. The 60 million customers we already have today will benefit from a seamlessly integrated, sustainable ecosystem of car-sharing, ride-hailing, parking, charging and multimodal transport services. We have a clear vision: these five services will merge ever more closely to form a single mobility service portfolio with an all-electric, self-driving fleet of vehicles that charge and park autonomously and interconnect with the other modes of transport,” said Harald Krüger, Management Board Chairman of BMW AG. “This service portfolio will be a key cornerstone in our strategy as a mobility provider. The cooperation is the perfect way for us to maximize our chances in a growing market, while sharing the investments.” The two companies’ mobility services have a wealth of experience and a strong customer base, with a combined total of over 60 million active customers to date. Building on their current, highly attractive product range and robust costumer base in the key regions of Europe and America, the companies will grow their global footprint as their existing mobility services combine to form five joint ventures: · REACH NOW offers more than 6.7 million users simple, direct access to a range of mobility services through a single multimodal platform. The REACH NOW apps will offer a range of options for getting from A to B, allowing users to book and pay directly for public transport and various other mobility options, such as car-sharing, ride-hailing and bike rentals. REACH NOW will be managed by Daniela Gerd tom Markotten as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), with Johannes Prantl as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). · CHARGE NOW is a service by Digital Charging Solutions GmbH (DCS), and its comprehensive charging network is a key contributor to zero-emissions driving. CHARGE NOW makes public charge points quick and easy to locate, use and pay for, both at home and abroad. Digital Charging Solutions GmbH develops simple, standardised access to public charge points for car manufacturers and fleet operators. With over 100,000 charge points across 25 countries, its white-label solutions are helping OEMs and fleet operators to realise their strategies for electric mobility. Customers benefit from cross-border access to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing charging networks, with over 250 charge point operators (CPOs) to date. · PARK NOW makes parking easier, on-street or off. The innovative digital parking service offers users the best possible parking solutions at a glance, allows them to reserve parking slots and manage their parking times, and enables ticketless entry and exit in public garages as well as cashless payment of parking fees. In addition, with the search for parking currently accounting for about 30 percent of the traffic on urban roads, PARK NOW is helping towns and cities to reduce traffic volumes, thereby helping to make city centres cleaner, healthier and more liveable. In Europe and North America over 30 million customers are already using the service in more than 1,100 cities. CHARGE NOW and PARK NOW are headed by Jörg Reimann as CEO, with Thomas Menzel as CFO. · FREE NOW offers a variety of mobility services including taxis, private chauffeurs with rental vehicles, and state-of-the-art e-scooters, all at the tap of a finger. One of the largest ride-hailing services in Europe and Latin America, FREE NOW already serves more than 21 million customers and over 250,000 drivers, who make a valuable contribution to the reduction of traffic in city centres. FREE NOW is headed by Marc Berg as CEO, with Sebastian Hofelich as CFO. · SHARE NOW is a free-floating car-sharing service that allows customers to rent and pay for vehicles by smartphone — anytime, anywhere. Its fleet will now be extended to incorporate a wider range of models and increase market coverage. More than 4 million customers in total currently use the fleet’s 20,000 vehicles in 31 cities around the world. Car-sharing increases vehicle utilization rates, helping to cut the overall number of cars on the roads in urban areas. Olivier Reppert has been appointed CEO of SHARE NOW, with Stefan Glebke as CFO. REACH NOW, CHARGE NOW, FREE NOW, PARK NOW and SHARE NOW represent innovative solutions by the BMW Group and Daimler AG for cities and municipalities seeking to make their traffic more efficient and sustainable. Thanks to their established services, the joint venture group already commands significant resources to support and systematically enhance sustainable urban mobility. “We are steering very clearly towards growth, and together we will continue to invest consistently in our joint mobility services. As well as linking in additional transport options, we want to reach out to even more people in towns and cities across the world, thereby improving the quality of urban life,” Krüger explained. The new mobility portfolio will be easy to access, intuitive to use, and will cater to customers’ needs. Its seamlessly integrated, sustainable ecosystem will make mobility more convenient — because cities are where the future of mobility will be decided. This is confirmed by the choice of Berlin as the base for the organization’s headquarters. A hub of creativity and innovation, the German capital is an attractive location for employees and upcoming talents. The next few years will see up to 1,000 new jobs created worldwide – including in Berlin and Germany. After an initial phase of investment and growth, the new joint venture group will offer attractive profitability, which will be crucial to its success. “As premium manufacturers, we have long been setting standards in the automotive industry and for our customers. In the premium vehicle business, we will continue to compete for customers. But our new portfolio for individual urban mobility on demand represents a logical extension to the value chain. Ultimately, we want to offer our customers as many options as possible for getting from A to B. In short, this is about driving, riding or being driven," said Zetsche. With their joint mobility services, the BMW Group and Daimler AG are responding to mobility needs of today and the future with a focus on cities. Digitalization is a key enabler as it creates new opportunities for individual mobility. Over time, customers will be able to use and experience additional mobility options from all-electric autonomous fleets that are available on demand, charge and park themselves, and connect with other modes of transport beyond road and rail. In the competition for the best urban mobility solution, the promise of safety and comfort by the two leading German premium OEMs provides the basis for this to happen.
  3. There has been a prevailing thought about the likes of Uber and Lyft that once they switch from human drivers to self-driving vehicles, they would stand to see a significant reduction in overall operating costs. This possibly means consumers could see these services as an alternative to owning a vehicle. But a new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) disputes that claim. Researchers Ashley Nunes and Kristen D. Hernandez examined the San Francisco market on the per-mile cost of an automated taxi service to owning a vehicle. They found an automated taxi would range between $1.58 and $6.01 per mile, while the conventional vehicle would be at $0.72 per mile. "When we started going into this work, we found there's a lot of hand-waving. There was a notion that 'All we have to do is remove the driver, assume a reduction in insurance, and there's our great number.' We said, 'Let's hold it up to scrutiny.' It didn't hold up," explained Nunes to Automotive News. The massive disparity gap isn't due to ownership or maintenance, rather a fundamental issue about the taxi market in general. Nunes said taxi operators drive too many miles without a paying customer - hence their higher costs. In San Francisco, the MIT researchers found a 52 percent utilization rate for ride-hailing. Even if they were able to reach 100 percent utilization, Nunes said they would still be "unable to provide a fare that's comparable to car ownership." "Their approach with the investment folks has been, 'Trust us, we'll figure this out and it'll be this great utopia where everyone is jumping from an Uber to a scooter to an air taxi.The future may well be all those things. But you need to demonstrate you can offer the service at a price point that consumers are willing and able to pay. Thus far, they are unable to do so," said Nunes. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article
  4. There has been a prevailing thought about the likes of Uber and Lyft that once they switch from human drivers to self-driving vehicles, they would stand to see a significant reduction in overall operating costs. This possibly means consumers could see these services as an alternative to owning a vehicle. But a new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) disputes that claim. Researchers Ashley Nunes and Kristen D. Hernandez examined the San Francisco market on the per-mile cost of an automated taxi service to owning a vehicle. They found an automated taxi would range between $1.58 and $6.01 per mile, while the conventional vehicle would be at $0.72 per mile. "When we started going into this work, we found there's a lot of hand-waving. There was a notion that 'All we have to do is remove the driver, assume a reduction in insurance, and there's our great number.' We said, 'Let's hold it up to scrutiny.' It didn't hold up," explained Nunes to Automotive News. The massive disparity gap isn't due to ownership or maintenance, rather a fundamental issue about the taxi market in general. Nunes said taxi operators drive too many miles without a paying customer - hence their higher costs. In San Francisco, the MIT researchers found a 52 percent utilization rate for ride-hailing. Even if they were able to reach 100 percent utilization, Nunes said they would still be "unable to provide a fare that's comparable to car ownership." "Their approach with the investment folks has been, 'Trust us, we'll figure this out and it'll be this great utopia where everyone is jumping from an Uber to a scooter to an air taxi.The future may well be all those things. But you need to demonstrate you can offer the service at a price point that consumers are willing and able to pay. Thus far, they are unable to do so," said Nunes. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)
  5. Volvo an Uber announced a deal where Uber will purchase 24,000 Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid SUVs over 3 years to expand Uber's self-driving fleet. Uber has been testing self-driving vehicles in Pittsburgh since Autumn 2016 with human supervision in the driver seat. Over 100 such vehicles are currently in operation in the city. The deal marks the largest single order of vehicles for Geely owned Volvo. While no financial details were disclosed, the minimum retail price for an XC90 T8 Hybrid is $64,950. Volvo expects the profit margin per vehicle to be on par with traditional sales through a dealership network. Uber chose the XC90 because much of the hardware to add autonomous capabilities is already built into the car. Geely/Volvo engineers have been working closely with Uber to ensure that compatibility going forward. With a major shift in buying and driving habits coming in the future, Volvo is placing its chips on partnering with Uber to remain relevant in an industry ripe for disruption. Photo: Uber View full article
  6. Volvo an Uber announced a deal where Uber will purchase 24,000 Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid SUVs over 3 years to expand Uber's self-driving fleet. Uber has been testing self-driving vehicles in Pittsburgh since Autumn 2016 with human supervision in the driver seat. Over 100 such vehicles are currently in operation in the city. The deal marks the largest single order of vehicles for Geely owned Volvo. While no financial details were disclosed, the minimum retail price for an XC90 T8 Hybrid is $64,950. Volvo expects the profit margin per vehicle to be on par with traditional sales through a dealership network. Uber chose the XC90 because much of the hardware to add autonomous capabilities is already built into the car. Geely/Volvo engineers have been working closely with Uber to ensure that compatibility going forward. With a major shift in buying and driving habits coming in the future, Volvo is placing its chips on partnering with Uber to remain relevant in an industry ripe for disruption. Photo: Uber
  7. There is a right way and a wrong way when it comes to testing autonomous vehicles on public roads. Uber has demonstrated the wrong way. Yesterday, the company launched eleven driverless Volvo XC90s in San Fransisco as part of a pilot program. But by late morning, two of the eleven vehicles were running amok. The San Fransisco Examiner got their hands on a dash cam video showing one of the XC90s running a red light at 10:37 A.M. Later that morning, a freelance producer and writer tweeted “Just passed a ‘self-driving’ Uber that lurched into the intersection on Van Ness [Avenue], on a red, nearly hitting my Lyft.” “It was close enough that both myself and the driver reacted and were like, ‘Shit. It stopped suddenly and stayed like that, as you see in the photo,” said Annie Gaus to the Examiner. Because of these incidents, the California Department of Motor Vehicles ordered Uber to halt the program. In a statement obtained by The Truth About Cars, Uber said the incident on video was due to human error and not the technology. “This incident was due to human error. This is why we believe so much in making the roads safer by building self-driving Ubers. This vehicle was not part of the pilot and was not carrying customers. The driver involved has been suspended while we continue to investigate.” Not the most reassuring statement considering said vehicle looks like one from the pilot program. At the moment, Uber has drivers in the self-driving vehicles to control them in case of an issue. But there is a bigger problem at hand. Uber did not have the permit to legally have their autonomous vehicles on the road. A press release on Uber's Newsroom announcing the program said they didn't need one. Here are the paragraphs in question, "Finally, we understand that there is a debate over whether or not we need a testing permit to launch self-driving Ubers in San Francisco. We have looked at this issue carefully and we don’t believe we do. Before you think, “there they go again” let us take a moment to explain: First, we are not planning to operate any differently than in Pittsburgh, where our pilot has been running successfully for several months. Second, the rules apply to cars that can drive without someone controlling or monitoring them. For us, it’s still early days and our cars are not yet ready to drive without a person monitoring them." Unsurprisingly, the California DMV is not happy with Uber and threaten legal action if Uber did not halt the program and obtain the permit. “If Uber does not confirm immediately that it will stop its launch and seek a testing permit, the DMV will initiate legal action,” wrote DMV attorney Brian Soublet in a letter sent Anthony Levandowski, who heads Uber’s autonomous car program. This isn't the first time Uber's autonomous program has found itself in hot water. Back in September, Quartz reported on the issues Uber was having with their autonomous program in Pittsburgh from a vehicle going the wrong way down a one-way street to a minor accident. Source: San Francisco Examiner , (2), The Truth About Cars , Quartz, Uber Newsroom Pic Credit: Uber View full article
  8. There is a right way and a wrong way when it comes to testing autonomous vehicles on public roads. Uber has demonstrated the wrong way. Yesterday, the company launched eleven driverless Volvo XC90s in San Fransisco as part of a pilot program. But by late morning, two of the eleven vehicles were running amok. The San Fransisco Examiner got their hands on a dash cam video showing one of the XC90s running a red light at 10:37 A.M. Later that morning, a freelance producer and writer tweeted “Just passed a ‘self-driving’ Uber that lurched into the intersection on Van Ness [Avenue], on a red, nearly hitting my Lyft.” “It was close enough that both myself and the driver reacted and were like, ‘Shit. It stopped suddenly and stayed like that, as you see in the photo,” said Annie Gaus to the Examiner. Because of these incidents, the California Department of Motor Vehicles ordered Uber to halt the program. In a statement obtained by The Truth About Cars, Uber said the incident on video was due to human error and not the technology. “This incident was due to human error. This is why we believe so much in making the roads safer by building self-driving Ubers. This vehicle was not part of the pilot and was not carrying customers. The driver involved has been suspended while we continue to investigate.” Not the most reassuring statement considering said vehicle looks like one from the pilot program. At the moment, Uber has drivers in the self-driving vehicles to control them in case of an issue. But there is a bigger problem at hand. Uber did not have the permit to legally have their autonomous vehicles on the road. A press release on Uber's Newsroom announcing the program said they didn't need one. Here are the paragraphs in question, "Finally, we understand that there is a debate over whether or not we need a testing permit to launch self-driving Ubers in San Francisco. We have looked at this issue carefully and we don’t believe we do. Before you think, “there they go again” let us take a moment to explain: First, we are not planning to operate any differently than in Pittsburgh, where our pilot has been running successfully for several months. Second, the rules apply to cars that can drive without someone controlling or monitoring them. For us, it’s still early days and our cars are not yet ready to drive without a person monitoring them." Unsurprisingly, the California DMV is not happy with Uber and threaten legal action if Uber did not halt the program and obtain the permit. “If Uber does not confirm immediately that it will stop its launch and seek a testing permit, the DMV will initiate legal action,” wrote DMV attorney Brian Soublet in a letter sent Anthony Levandowski, who heads Uber’s autonomous car program. This isn't the first time Uber's autonomous program has found itself in hot water. Back in September, Quartz reported on the issues Uber was having with their autonomous program in Pittsburgh from a vehicle going the wrong way down a one-way street to a minor accident. Source: San Francisco Examiner , (2), The Truth About Cars , Quartz, Uber Newsroom Pic Credit: Uber
  9. So this past weekend I finally got to experience the whole "Uber" thing and to put it simply, it's awesome. The gf and I met at a friends apartment in STL(Soulard area for anybody who may have been this way before or Frisky because he is in the area) and then we all needed to get to where we were meeting more friends to eat. Simply put, the parking is atrocious where we were heading or it would be fairly easy if you were willing to walk a mile.. no thanks. Our friends who live in the area go to bars and Uber all of the time so they're used to it. It's actually crazy how simple it is. Step 1: Open app Step 2: Choose destination(and pickup but it has a map and a little dot where you are and you just select "select pickup location" and that's automatically the address you're at) Step 3: Wait a couple minutes for the pickup(in our case he was less than a minute away - literally. He was out front before we had time to walk out front) Step 4: Get dropped off. Both trips to and from where we went the drivers were nice, talkative, and laid back. We talked to them as to not make it awkward but I BS'd with the second drive on just how the heck it works from his end. He said you can literally be a driver any time you want or don't want to. He said he just turns on his app when he wants to drive and waits for a request and whenever he feels like not driving he just turns it off. No mandatory hours or time or anything. ONLY when he wants to drive. He said he makes 80% of the commission but he thinks he's grandfathered in as he thinks the newest drivers are only 75%. Both drivers we had this was a second job for them literally just making extra money. The one guy was an English professor at a local college and the other guy had his own business with his brother setting up conferences or something. The second guy said it's just extra money that he's never touched in the 8 months he's been driving. I thought that was a GREAT idea. Drive a handful of random hours a week, save a few bucks, and either save it for retirement or something like that. The college professor as just gotten back from a 9 day trip in Europe and wanted to recoup what he just spend lol. Both were Kias also... a Soul and an Optima. For what that's worth. I'm sure I missed something but here is what the transaction looks like on my phone. I also thought that was really cool and you can rate your driver. Oh, also, because this was my first trip they gave me $15 worth of free ride. That is why I wasn't charged anything. Also, because everything is like this (the pic) there is no awkward tipping scenario. It's just what you're charged and nothing more. Super simple and quite frankly, awesome. I believe there are different size "ubers" that would be like a 5 or 8 seaters that cost more but we didn't need one so I don't exactly know about the process of selecting a larger vehicle.
  10. Yesterday, Hertz has announced that it reached partnership deals with both Uber and Lyft to provide vehicles to drivers. The deal will see Hertz proving drivers of the ride-sharing startups of vehicles that have been rotated out of their fleet. Drivers will get special rates on these vehicles. Hertz spokesman Bill Masterson says the rate for midsize vehicles will be $180 per week, including mileage and insurance. Why is Hertz making deals with Lyft and Uber? You only need to go back earlier this year when the company said ride-sharing services was limiting growth. Hertz thinks that if you work with and not against, you might have a shot of succeeding. “We consider this agreement to be largely complementary to our car-rental business, and it enables us to leverage our fleet and distribution infrastructure to participate in the dramatic growth in the ride sharing, or e-hailing, segment,” Hertz CEO John Tague said in a statement. It should be noted that Hertz and Lyft have worked together before on a pilot program in Las Vegas and Denver, where drivers were offered a similar deal. Source: Bloomberg, Hertz Press Release is on Page 2 Hertz Global Holdings Reaches U.S. Supply Agreement with Lyft for Rental Cars ESTERO, Fla., June 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HTZ) has reached an agreement with Lyft to supply its U.S. drivers with cars under specified rental agreements, expanding upon two pilot markets where Hertz and Lyft have partnered together since November 2015. Built on the model used in pilots in Las Vegas and Denver, the agreement provides set rental rates for drivers, who will be serviced from dedicated off-airport Hertz locations that give on-site support. The cars can be used for both Lyft business and personal driving. In addition to Las Vegas and Denver, Hertz will begin renting cars to Lyft drivers in Los Angeles and San Francisco with more markets expected to follow as part of the national agreement. "This agreement builds on the work we've been doing with Lyft for the past eight months," said John Tague, president and chief executive officer of Hertz Global Holdings. "Based on that experience, Hertz and Lyft were ready to take the next step, which resulted in this U.S. supply agreement. "Utilizing cars that are rotating out of our consumer rental fleet creates a model that works for Hertz and for Lyft drivers by providing them with well-maintained, good condition cars. We consider this agreement to be largely complementary to our car rental business, and it enables us to leverage our fleet and distribution infrastructure to participate in the dramatic growth in the ride sharing, or e–hailing, segment." Hertz Global Holdings Reaches U.S. Supply Agreement with Uber Technologies for Rental Cars ESTERO, Fla., June 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HTZ) has reached an agreement with Uber Technologies, Inc. to supply its U.S. partner drivers with cars under specified rental agreements. The agreement provides set rates for partners, who can rent from specified off-airport Hertz locations that give on-site support. The cars can be used for personal driving as well as for Uber business. Initially, Hertz is supplying partners in the Los Angeles area with other markets expected to follow as part of the national agreement. "This is a positive agreement for both Hertz and Uber," said John Tague, president and chief executive officer of Hertz Global Holdings. "Utilizing cars that are rotating out of our consumer rental fleet creates a model that works for Hertz and for Uber partners by providing them with well-maintained, good condition cars. We consider this agreement to be largely complementary to our car rental business, and it enables us to leverage our fleet and distribution infrastructure to participate in the dramatic growth in the ride sharing, or e–hailing, segment."
  11. Yesterday, Hertz has announced that it reached partnership deals with both Uber and Lyft to provide vehicles to drivers. The deal will see Hertz proving drivers of the ride-sharing startups of vehicles that have been rotated out of their fleet. Drivers will get special rates on these vehicles. Hertz spokesman Bill Masterson says the rate for midsize vehicles will be $180 per week, including mileage and insurance. Why is Hertz making deals with Lyft and Uber? You only need to go back earlier this year when the company said ride-sharing services was limiting growth. Hertz thinks that if you work with and not against, you might have a shot of succeeding. “We consider this agreement to be largely complementary to our car-rental business, and it enables us to leverage our fleet and distribution infrastructure to participate in the dramatic growth in the ride sharing, or e-hailing, segment,” Hertz CEO John Tague said in a statement. It should be noted that Hertz and Lyft have worked together before on a pilot program in Las Vegas and Denver, where drivers were offered a similar deal. Source: Bloomberg, Hertz Press Release is on Page 2 Hertz Global Holdings Reaches U.S. Supply Agreement with Lyft for Rental Cars ESTERO, Fla., June 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HTZ) has reached an agreement with Lyft to supply its U.S. drivers with cars under specified rental agreements, expanding upon two pilot markets where Hertz and Lyft have partnered together since November 2015. Built on the model used in pilots in Las Vegas and Denver, the agreement provides set rental rates for drivers, who will be serviced from dedicated off-airport Hertz locations that give on-site support. The cars can be used for both Lyft business and personal driving. In addition to Las Vegas and Denver, Hertz will begin renting cars to Lyft drivers in Los Angeles and San Francisco with more markets expected to follow as part of the national agreement. "This agreement builds on the work we've been doing with Lyft for the past eight months," said John Tague, president and chief executive officer of Hertz Global Holdings. "Based on that experience, Hertz and Lyft were ready to take the next step, which resulted in this U.S. supply agreement. "Utilizing cars that are rotating out of our consumer rental fleet creates a model that works for Hertz and for Lyft drivers by providing them with well-maintained, good condition cars. We consider this agreement to be largely complementary to our car rental business, and it enables us to leverage our fleet and distribution infrastructure to participate in the dramatic growth in the ride sharing, or e–hailing, segment." Hertz Global Holdings Reaches U.S. Supply Agreement with Uber Technologies for Rental Cars ESTERO, Fla., June 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HTZ) has reached an agreement with Uber Technologies, Inc. to supply its U.S. partner drivers with cars under specified rental agreements. The agreement provides set rates for partners, who can rent from specified off-airport Hertz locations that give on-site support. The cars can be used for personal driving as well as for Uber business. Initially, Hertz is supplying partners in the Los Angeles area with other markets expected to follow as part of the national agreement. "This is a positive agreement for both Hertz and Uber," said John Tague, president and chief executive officer of Hertz Global Holdings. "Utilizing cars that are rotating out of our consumer rental fleet creates a model that works for Hertz and for Uber partners by providing them with well-maintained, good condition cars. We consider this agreement to be largely complementary to our car rental business, and it enables us to leverage our fleet and distribution infrastructure to participate in the dramatic growth in the ride sharing, or e–hailing, segment." View full article
  12. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles surprised everyone last month when they announced a partnership with Google concerning autonomous vehicles. It seems that FCA wants to do something similar with another company. Bloomberg has learned from sources that FCA is currently in talks with Uber Technologies to strike a similar partnership concerning autonomous vehicles. At the moment, the talks between the two companies are at the preliminary stage. Unsurprisingly, both FCA and Uber declined to comment. Another source tells Bloomberg that Uber is in talks with other automakers. Not a big surprise as Uber already has announced a partnership with Toyota concerning the ride-service section of the business. Why would FCA be talking with Uber? FCA doesn't have the money/resources to develop their own technology. By partnering with various technology, this allows FCA to catch up in terms of autonomous tech. Source: Bloomberg
  13. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles surprised everyone last month when they announced a partnership with Google concerning autonomous vehicles. It seems that FCA wants to do something similar with another company. Bloomberg has learned from sources that FCA is currently in talks with Uber Technologies to strike a similar partnership concerning autonomous vehicles. At the moment, the talks between the two companies are at the preliminary stage. Unsurprisingly, both FCA and Uber declined to comment. Another source tells Bloomberg that Uber is in talks with other automakers. Not a big surprise as Uber already has announced a partnership with Toyota concerning the ride-service section of the business. Why would FCA be talking with Uber? FCA doesn't have the money/resources to develop their own technology. By partnering with various technology, this allows FCA to catch up in terms of autonomous tech. Source: Bloomberg View full article
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