Grab is Southeast Asia’s top ride-hailing firm thanks to its acquisition of Uber’s local business last year. Its biggest competitor gone, the company is on a push to go beyond transport and become an everyday ‘super app’ and that strategy just embraced video streaming today. That’s because Grab is integrating video-on-demand service HOOQ — a… Continue reading Southeast Asia’s Grab is adding Netflix-like video streaming to its ride-hailing app
Tag: Uber
Los Angeles is using ride-hailing startup Via to shuttle people to public transit
Los Angeles is partnering with on-demand shuttle-based service Via as part of a pilot program that will give people rides to three busy public transit stations. The pilot program, which launched Monday, aims to solve the first- and last-mile problem that makes it challenging for people to get to and from public transit stations. Under… Continue reading Los Angeles is using ride-hailing startup Via to shuttle people to public transit
Volvo’s self-driving car venture gets nod to test on Swedish roads
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – A Volvo Cars joint venture has won approval to begin hands-free testing of its software for self-driving cars on Swedish highways, partner Veoneer said on Monday. FILE PHOTO: A self-driving Volvo electric truck with no cab called Vera is seen during a presentation in Berlin, Germany, September 12, 2018. REUTERS/Emma Thomasson/File Photo… Continue reading Volvo’s self-driving car venture gets nod to test on Swedish roads
India Digest: Ola cuts Foodpanda budget; IDFC’s road assets sale; SMILE Microfin owners eye exit
January 28, 2019 Ola has slashed its budget for Foodpanda, while Canadian pension funds and NIIF are in talks to acquire seven road assets of IDFC. Also, Developing World Markets is again looking to sell its 67 per cent in SMILE microfinance. Ola slashes Foodpanda budget Indian ride-hailing major Ola has reportedly more than halved its… Continue reading India Digest: Ola cuts Foodpanda budget; IDFC’s road assets sale; SMILE Microfin owners eye exit
China’s Didi, BAIC set up joint venture to work on NEV projects
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Didi Chuxing said it had set up a joint venture (JV) with Beijing Electric Vehicle Co., a unit of state-owned BAIC, to work on new energy vehicle and artificial intelligence projects. The JV, BAIC-Xiaoju New Energy Auto Technology Co. Ltd, aims to develop “next-generation connected-car systems”, Didi, China’s largest ride-hailing operator,… Continue reading China’s Didi, BAIC set up joint venture to work on NEV projects
BMW, Porsche, Jaguar Land Rover invest in roadside assistance startup Urgently
Urgently, the roadside assistance startup that connects car owners who need help with tow truck and other services, has raised $21 million in a Series B round that includes the venture arms of BMW, Porsche and Jaguar Land Rover. BMW has also signed Urgently as a vendor partner for its own roadside assistance platform (known… Continue reading BMW, Porsche, Jaguar Land Rover invest in roadside assistance startup Urgently
Go-Jek makes first close of $2 billion round at $9.5 billion valuation
Southeast Asia-based ride-sharing firm Go-Jek is making progress with its plan to raise up to $2 billion in fresh capital to fund its battle with close rival Grab. Indonesia-headquartered Go-Jek has closed an initial chunk of that round after a collection of existing investors, including Google, Tencent and JD.com, agreed to invest around $920 million towards… Continue reading Go-Jek makes first close of $2 billion round at $9.5 billion valuation
Costa Rica Proposes Law to Legalize, Tax Ride-Hailing
When registering to operate in Costa Rica, ride-hailing companies would have to pay a registration fee of about $13,800,000. Photo via dconvertini/Flickr. Lawmakers in Costa Rica have proposed legislation that would allow taxi companies and ride-hailing platforms to operate together “under fair conditions of competition,” according to the Tico Times. The bill put forward by the… Continue reading Costa Rica Proposes Law to Legalize, Tax Ride-Hailing
BMW ReachNow CEO Steve Banfield to step down as BMW and Daimler launch joint mobility company
Steve Banfield. (GeekWire Photo / Nat Levy) BMW ReachNow CEO Steve Banfield, who helped the German carmaker grow its car-sharing service in the U.S., is stepping down from the role, GeekWire has learned. Banfield took the reins at ReachNow in 2016, one month after the service launched in Seattle. The former INRIX and Rightside executive… Continue reading BMW ReachNow CEO Steve Banfield to step down as BMW and Daimler launch joint mobility company
REFILE-UPDATE 1-Boeing’s flying car lifts off in race to revolutionize urban travel
SEATTLE (Reuters) – Boeing Co said on Wednesday its flying car prototype hovered briefly in the air during an inaugural test flight, a small but significant step as the world’s largest planemaker bids to revolutionize urban transportation and parcel delivery services. Boeing’s Autonomous Passenger Air Vehicle (PAV) prototype is shown during an inaugural test flight,… Continue reading REFILE-UPDATE 1-Boeing’s flying car lifts off in race to revolutionize urban travel