Bosch acquires B2B rideshare startup SPLT and establishes mobility service arm

Bosch has acquired a ridesharing startup called SPLT that offered employers, universities and municipal authorities workforce-focused ridesharing services to help them offer shared commute as a means of increasing convenience and alleviating route congestion. Bosch, a leading global automotive industry supplier, is also establishing a new dedicated mobility services division, a sign of the changing… Continue reading Bosch acquires B2B rideshare startup SPLT and establishes mobility service arm

Poor cloud security let hackers mine cryptocurrency on Tesla’s dime

The strange new breed of malicious cryptocurrency miners spares no one, it seems: Tesla is the latest to be struck by this trendy form of hackery. A poorly secured cloud computing setup let them waltz right in. It’s only the latest example of several detected by cloud security outfit RedLock, which has tracked a series… Continue reading Poor cloud security let hackers mine cryptocurrency on Tesla’s dime

Uber parks its service in Morocco

Uber is pulling the brakes on its service in Morocco, which will cease on February 23, as it waits (and hopes) for local regulators to accommodate app-based ride-hailing. The company announced the move on its country blog yesterday, writing that it has “not had any clarity” on how its service can be integrated into the… Continue reading Uber parks its service in Morocco

Sony Corp. to launch an AI-based taxi-hailing service in Japan

Sony Corporation said today that it will build an AI-based ride-hailing system in Japan in partnership with five taxi companies. The service will use artificial intelligence to manage taxi dispatches and forecast demand based on factors like weather, traffic and local events. Sony’s announcement came just before Uber chief executive officer Dara Khosrowshahi, who is… Continue reading Sony Corp. to launch an AI-based taxi-hailing service in Japan

Uber is reportedly preparing to sell its Southeast Asian business to Grab

Uber is preparing to sell its Southeast Asian business to Grab in exchange for a stake in the Singaporean ride-sharing company that has a big presence in that region, according to a new report from CNBC. This wouldn’t be an unfamiliar story for Uber, which was handily beaten by Didi in China before eventually caving… Continue reading Uber is reportedly preparing to sell its Southeast Asian business to Grab

H-E-B acquires Texas-based on-demand company Favor

H-E-B has acquired Favor, the on-demand delivery service out of Texas. Favor will continue to operate as an independent wholly owned subsidiary of the grocery chain. The company first in 2013, bringing a Texas-tailored approach to on-demand delivery. While many on-demand services, such as Postmates, focus on high-density areas like NYC and San Francisco, Favor… Continue reading H-E-B acquires Texas-based on-demand company Favor

London sets out safety-first plan for regulating ride-sharing

After London sent ripple’s of shock through Silicon Valley last year by denying Uber a renewal of its private hire vehicle license, the city’s transport regulator is doubling down on its scrutiny of the impact of app-based ride operators. Today it’s published a policy statement setting out its intentions for adopting transport regulations to fit the… Continue reading London sets out safety-first plan for regulating ride-sharing

Bike-sharing startup Spin is getting into scooter-sharing

Because there are not enough ways to get around major cities and campuses, Spin is working to launch stationless electric scooter-sharing. These aren’t the electric scooters you see in San Francisco, operated by Scoot Networks. These are essentially electrified Razor-like scooters that can go up to 15 mph and cover 18 miles on a single… Continue reading Bike-sharing startup Spin is getting into scooter-sharing

Spin wants to bring dock-less bike sharing to the US

Bikeshare programs in the US have mostly consisted of kiosks, or stations, where users can unlock a bike, take it off the rack, use it and return it once their errand or joy ride is done. Some only allow subscribers others charge by the hour. Meanwhile in China, bikeshare programs have evolved from kiosk-based systems… Continue reading Spin wants to bring dock-less bike sharing to the US

Aurora will power Byton EV’s autonomous driving features

Aurora, the self-driving startup founded by Google self-driving car project alum Chris Urmson, along with Tesla Autopilot developer Sterling Anderson, CMU robotics expert and Uber vet Drew Bagnell, and a team of industry experts, will be making the autonomous smarts for Byton’s forthcoming electric vehicle. Byton, a startup that had a splashy debut at CES… Continue reading Aurora will power Byton EV’s autonomous driving features