Starting in early May, select Lyft users in New York City will begin to see a new mode of transportation available in the app: bikes! As we work to make cities better places to live and increase mobility, we see bikeshare as an integral part of our vision. There’s no question that a platform for… Continue reading Coming to the Lyft app: Bikes!
Category: Mobility Companies
Via Announces Strategic Partnership with ITOCHU Corporation and Mori Building Company
Published April 14, 2019 10:00 pm, Via NYC
Via Announces Strategic Partnership with ITOCHU Corporation and Mori Building Company
The new partnership allows for dramatic growth of on-demand mobility in Japan
April 15, 2019 (Tokyo, Japan) — Via, the world’s leading provider and developer of on-demand shared mobility solutions, announced today a strategic partnership with ITOCHU Corporation and Mori Building Company. Following on the heels of the August 2018 launch of HillsVia, a commuter service for Mori employees, the new partnership will allow Via to rapidly expand its dynamic, on-demand transportation solutions and solve pressing transit issues across Japan.
“We are delighted for ITOCHU and Mori Building to join us as strategic partners and investors,” said Daniel Ramot, co-founder and CEO of Via. “ITOCHU’s bold vision to transform consumer experiences and mobility infrastructure and Mori Building’s success in innovating urban living make both companies invaluable partners as we work to provide cutting-edge mobility solutions that are smart, efficient, and help to reduce congestion and emissions in Japan.”
Via is able to seamlessly integrate with existing fixed-route transportation infrastructure, helping to fill in gaps where existing transit isn’t easily accessible. Via’s technology efficiently works to aggregate multiple passengers into shared vehicles, reducing single-occupancy vehicle trips, thus improving traffic congestion and curtailing carbon emissions. The easy-to-use mobile interface is suited to riders of all ages, including the elderly.
As one of the country’s largest general trading companies, ITOCHU has a deep understanding of the Japanese consumer market, leading the pack when it comes to investing in transformative technologies like Via that will both innovate transportation and solve local governments’ most pressing issues. Via’s technology and operational experience is uniquely suited to the Japanese market, where Via operates as Via Japan.
“We are excited to partner with Via to support a more convenient transportation system in Japan,” said Shunsuke Noda, ITOCHU Chief Digital & Information Officer. “We believe that Via’s cutting-edge solution will be widely accepted in the Japanese market through strategic partnerships with existing transportation operators.”
Leading Tokyo-based urban developer Mori Building began its partnership with Via in August 2018, developing the on-demand mobility HillsVia solution for travel between Mori Building properties, such as Roppongi Hills and Toranomon Hills. Using the Via-powered HillsVia mobile app, Mori Building employees can book rides in high-end V-Class vans provided by Mercedes-Benz to move amongst the properties. The program confirmed that Via’s solutions can be successfully applied to Japanese business customs and traffic conditions.
“Through our trial of HillsVia since last summer, we have experienced the usefulness of Via’s unique algorism for urban lifestyle. Via’s solution will contribute to solving the problems of urban transportation such as traffic congestion and environmental pollution,” said Masahiko Ogasawara, a Director & Executive Managing Officer for Mori Building. “This service will improve city life by increasing transportation options in urban areas.”
In partnership with ITOCHU and Mori Building, Via aims to provide Japanese transportation companies and drivers with new technology that will both improve their organizational profitability, as well as solve social problems throughout Japan.
Via has been tapped by cities and transit authorities in more than 60 markets in 15 countries around the world, including several deployments in Asia. In addition to Mori’s corporate shuttle system, Via also powers a public transportation network to transform Angot in Indonesia in cooperation with PT. Teknologi Rancang Olah Nusantara (affiliated with Digiasia Bios), and two on-demand bus services in Singapore, including one with Singapore’s Land Transportation Authority. To learn more about Via, visit www.platform.ridewithvia.com.
About Via
Via is re-engineering public transit, from a regulated system of rigid routes and schedules to a fully dynamic, on-demand network. Via’s mobile app connects multiple passengers who are headed the same way, allowing riders to seamlessly share a premium vehicle. First launched in New York City in September 2013, the Via platform operates in the United States and in Europe through its joint venture with Mercedes-Benz Vans, ViaVan. Via’s technology is also deployed worldwide through dozens of partner projects with public transportation agencies, private transit operators, taxi fleets, private companies, and universities, seamlessly integrating with public transit infrastructure to power cutting-edge on-demand mobility. For more information, visit www.platform.ridewithvia.com.
About ITOCHU Corporation
With 110 offices in 63 countries, ITOCHU, one of the leading sogo shosha, engages in domestic trading, import/export and overseas trading of various products such as textile, machinery, metals, minerals, energy, chemicals, food, general products, realty, information and communications technology, and finance, as well as business investment in Japan and overseas. ITOCHU Corporation was founded by Chubei Itoh in 1858 and now employs 4,380 people globally.
About Mori Building Company
Mori Building is an innovative urban developer based in Tokyo. The company is committed to maximizing the magnetic power of cities by creating and nurturing safe, sustainable and cosmopolitan urban centers based on its unique Vertical Garden City concept of high-rise centers for business, education, leisure and residence. The concept is applied in the company’s many leading-edge projects, including ARK Hills, Omotesando Hills, Roppongi Hills and Toranomon Hills in Tokyo and the Shanghai World Financial Center. Mori Building is also engaged in real estate leasing, project management and consultation. Please visit www.mori.co.jp/en
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Bekasi and Via Launch TRON to Transform Riding Angkot in Indonesia
Published April 9, 2019 11:00 pm, Via NYC
Bekasi and Via Launch TRON to Transform Riding Angkot in Indonesia
The new ridesharing deployment will launch in March near Jakarta, beginning with 150 vehicles
April 10, 2019 (Bekasi, Indonesia) — Residents of Bekasi will soon be served by the next generation of Angkot as PT. Teknologi Rancang Olah Nusantara introduces TRON, a new form of on-demand public transportation. Launching on April 10, TRON is developed in partnership with Via, the world’s leading provider of on-demand shared mobility solutions.
TRON is a new mobile application that allows users to request a 15 person shared van in real-time, similar to those used for Angkot. After registration, riders request their travel and are directed to a nearby virtual pickup point indicated in the application. The new service will begin with 150 vehicles, giving riders a fully dynamic new way to travel around Bekasi.
“With TRON in Bekasi, we are confident that we will give a new experience in riding public transportation,” said TRON CEO David Santoso. “This new service powered by Via is a great way to encourage people to ride public transportation.”
The vehicles hailed by the TRON mobile app will run in two zones — one along the former K-11 route that was divided into three routes, and another along the former K-12 route. The K-11 service will run from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., while the K-12 will operate from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Each trip is a fixed-fee, costing riders just 5000 rupiah.
“People in Bekasi no longer need to walk a long distance to search for Angkot because TRON provides on-demand booking and efficient routing, making it possible for Angkot drivers to pick up riders much closer to their homes and taking them on a more direct route to their destinations,” said Santoso.
Via’s advanced algorithms enable multiple riders to seamlessly share a vehicle. The powerful technology directs passengers to a nearby corner — a virtual bus stop — for pick up and drop off, and dynamically routes the vehicle in real-time, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips without lengthy detours, or inconvenient fixed routes and schedules.
“We are delighted to partner with the innovative city of Bekasi to bring Via’s technology to Indonesia,” said Daniel Ramot, co-founder and CEO of Via. “Via’s vision is to provide cutting-edge mobility solutions that are smart, efficient, and help to reduce congestion and emissions globally, and the TRON service demonstrates how public transportation and technology can work together to make a city smarter.”
Via has been tapped by cities and transportation players around the world to help re-engineer public transit from a regulated system of rigid routes and schedules to a fully dynamic, on-demand network. Via now has more than 60 launched and pending deployments in more than 15 countries. To learn more about Via, visit www.platform.ridewithvia.com.
About TRON
Aplikasi TRON adalah produk dari PT. Teknologi Rancang Olah Nusantara dan merupakan afiliasi dari Digiasia Bios. TRON merupakan aplikasi ride sharing yang saat ini dapat digunakan untuk naik Angkot di Bekasi dengan layanan pembayaran non tunai yang disediakan oleh KasPro.
The TRON application is a product by PT. Teknologi Rancang Olah Nusantara and affiliated by Digiasia Bios. TRON is a ride sharing application that currently can be used to ride City Transport (Angkot) in Bekasi with cashless payment service provided by KasPro.
About Via
Via is re-engineering public transit, from a regulated system of rigid routes and schedules to a fully dynamic, on-demand network. Via’s mobile app connects multiple passengers who are headed the same way, allowing riders to seamlessly share a premium vehicle. First launched in New York City in September 2013, the Via platform operates in the United States and in Europe through its joint venture with Mercedes-Benz Vans, ViaVan. Via’s technology is also deployed worldwide through dozens of partner projects with public transportation agencies, private transit operators, taxi fleets, private companies, and universities, seamlessly integrating with public transit infrastructure to power cutting-edge on-demand mobility. For more information, visit www.platform.ridewithvia.com.
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How Careem’s Destination Prediction Service speeds up your…
In Dubai, there are around 8,000 restaurants, the world’s tallest building, over 50 malls, lots of beaches, theme parks and much more. The number of destinations is vast – so where are you going next?
You’re not the only one trying to answer that question.
Careem is constantly trying to figure out where its users will go next. And not just in Dubai, but in all 15 of the countries in which we’re present and for all 33 million of the platform’s users.
Why does a ride-hailing service need the answer?
Imagine, instead of asking a user to search his destination on a map by manually inputting the address, we simply give them a shortlist of most probable locations to choose from.
One-click booking makes things faster and easier for the customer, and knowing where a customer would like to go next – even before they tell us – allows us to improve our service by ensuring the busier areas have a greater supply of transport options.
The Careem data science team asked the question, “if we bui..
Careem launches global in-ride insurance for passengers and Captains
Careem has launched a global in-ride insurance programme to provide free in-ride insurance for both passengers and Captains in all 15 countries in which Careem operates.
The deal with a global insurance broker has secured policies that would potentially pay up to $20,000 to cover expenses related to death or serious injury caused by an accident during a Careem ride.
Captains are covered by insurance from the moment that their app is online and available to pick up passengers, right through when they are en-route to pick-up a fare or waiting at the pick up location, as well as when driving the passenger to their destination.
Safety remains our top priority as we expand across new territories and enter new verticals. The introduction of our new free global insurance plan means that our Captains and all 33 million of our customers now have insurance while riding with us in any country. This is a huge commitment from Careem that reflects the importance of safety and well-being of our cu..
Grab’s new one-north headquarters to house up to 3,000 employees and its largest R&D Centre
The regional tech champion launches Batch 2 of Grab Ventures Velocity programme and reaffirms long-term commitment to Singapore at groundbreaking ceremony of its new headquarters. Singapore, 29 March 2019 — Grab, the leading everyday super app in Southeast Asia, and Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust (Ascendas Reit), today held the groundbreaking ceremony for Grab’s new… Continue reading Grab’s new one-north headquarters to house up to 3,000 employees and its largest R&D Centre
Bolt awarded as best young-led startup 🚀
In StartUp Europe Awards ceremony held in Romania, European Comission and Finnova Foundation awarded 5 significant start-ups from Europe for their social impact. We are proud to announce that Bolt won an award for best young-led startup. The ceremony was chaired by the European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Mariya Gabriel, together with the Mayor… Continue reading Bolt awarded as best young-led startup 🚀
1 in 5 Torontonians would consider replacing their vehicle with a carsharing service!
Toronto’s first free-floating carsharing service, Communauto FLEX, reaches 30 000 usages in first three months.
TORONTO, March 5, 2019 – Toronto’s appetite for alternative mobility is growing. A new report from Communauto, Canada’s longest-running carsharing company and the new free-floating carsharing service in Toronto, found that 1 in 5 Torontonians (20 per cent) would consider getting rid of their household vehicle and using a carsharing service as a replacement. Of that 20 per cent, Millennials were most likely to make the switch, with 1 in 4 (25 per cent) claiming they would reconsider household vehicles for the right carsharing alternative; 16 per cent of Gen Xers and 15 per cent of Baby Boomers said the same.
“Currently, 87 per cent of Torontonians own a vehicle. As technology evolves and Toronto becomes a smarter and more mobility-driven city, it’s clear that there’s a desire for new ways of moving around”, said Marco Viviani, Communauto Vice President. “Carsharing complements transit and active transportation to provide affordable, flexible and eco-friendly mobility, reducing congestion and pollution. That’s why we’re thrilled to be working with the City of Toronto as the first participants in its new carsharing pilot project. This report confirms what we observed on the field, the rapid adoption of the service by Torontonians that led us to enlarge the service area after just 3 months.”
The report went on to find that 12 per cent of Toronto’s drivers have tried carsharing, and that nearly half of the city’s population (49 per cent) are open to using such a service. Of the demographics surveyed, Millennials were most receptive, with 67 per cent open to the idea of trying a free-floating carsharing service. They were also the demographic most familiar with carsharing—22 per cent of 18-34-year-olds said they’ve used a carsharing service in the past, compared to 10 per cent of Gen Xers and just 4 per cent of Baby Boomers.
“Communauto has been an excellent resource for my fiancé and I,” said Andrew, a 24-year-old resident of downtown Toronto. “Living in the city is expensive, and owning a car is a big, expensive responsibility. Between summer cycling and public transit, we find ourselves only requiring a vehicle occasionally, for transporting purchases and getting out of the city. Communauto fills these needs perfectly. One way trips are convenient, and daily rates are reasonable for weekend trips. Also, the cars are all well equipped, and drive smoothly. It’s an easy, low hassle alternative to owning or renting.”
In just three months the results are impressive: more than 30,000 trips by more than 2,000 users. The average trip is 20 km and more than three hours in duration, with 5 per cent of weekend trips lasting more than 24 hours. Some of the most popular long-distance destinations are Muskoka and Prince Edward County and the most popular carsharing neighbourhoods are Parkdale, Little Italy, Riverdale, and Little India. Customers use the service to complete tasks like groceries, business meetings, shopping at IKEA, visiting friends, and going out of the city.
Free-Floating Zone
Communauto FLEX launched in Toronto with 200 Hyundai Accent hatchbacks in November 2018, servicing an area of close to 50 square kilometres in the downtown core. The free-floating parking zone spans to High Park and Runnymede in the west, Dupont and Mortimer in the north, and Victoria Park in the east.
How it works
Communauto FLEX offers Torontonians 24/7 access to one-way carsharing and a simple way to improve their mobility inside and outside the city. Registered users can locate and reserve cars using the Communauto FLEX mobile app, and doors can be unlocked and locked using a smartphone.
Communauto FLEX has no monthly fees and is free to join, using a pay-as-you-go structure. Daily trips begin at $0.41/minute, $15/hour, $50 the first day, and $35 for any extra days, fuel price included. The first 150 km is included in the price of each trip, and for a limited time, registered users will receive the first 30 minutes of each trip free. Torontonians can book Communauto FLEX cars, which are parked in residential on-street parking spaces within the 50 kilometre square service area, and drive anywhere they want to go in between, dropping the car off in any legal parking space at the end of the trip. Metered parking spaces and Green P lots are for the moment excluded from the service area.
To register for Communauto FLEX, please visit: https://toronto.communauto.com/join
More information on Toronto’s Free-Floating Car-Share pilot project is available at http://bit.ly/FFCarSharePilot2018
About Communauto
Founded in Quebec City in 1994, Communauto is the longest-running car-sharing service in North America and the one serving the largest number of communities in Canada. With a fleet of more than 2,000 vehicles, the company serves 13 cities each one with a local approach. Among these are Edmonton, Waterloo Region, Hamilton, London, Guelph, Kingston, Ottawa, Gatineau, Montréal/Laval/ Longueuil, Quebec City/Lévis, Sherbrooke, Halifax and Paris in France. Communauto group operates gas, hybrids and electric cars and offers both round-trip and free-floating carsharing.
A Near Death Experience
A Near Death Experience Tin Hang LiuBlockedUnblockFollowFollowing Mar 21 I was riding passenger on my way to Turin from Milan on Blablacar, Europe’s carpooling app. In front of myself and the driver, Davide, was a semi truck. We saw its tire explode before it, and its rim, began spinning into the air at an altitude… Continue reading A Near Death Experience
comma.ai moves to San Diego
comma.ai moves to San Diego comma aiBlockedUnblockFollowFollowing Mar 13 San Diego skyline. The story “Hey guys, as you know, we have been looking for a new office for quite some time now and it has been very frustrating. Rent rates keep soaring! I thought about it and why don’t we move out of Silicon Valley?”. “Hell yeah.… Continue reading comma.ai moves to San Diego