Uber hires first chief privacy officer

Uber has hired its first chief privacy officer, as well as a former TomTom executive in charge, ensuring the ride-hailing company complies with the EU’s data protection laws. The new hires, which were announced to Uber employees in an internal email, aim to help the company strengthen its privacy standards and data protections. Ruby Zefo,… Continue reading Uber hires first chief privacy officer

Coast Autonomous’ self-driving shuttles are boring, and that’s by design

Between 47th and 48th streets in the heart of Times Square, Coast Autonomous, a startup based in Pasadena, California, today showed off the fruit of its six-year research project: a slow-moving, self-driving shuttle designed to ferry folks from destination to destination at speeds of around 25 miles per hour. I stopped by and hitched a… Continue reading Coast Autonomous’ self-driving shuttles are boring, and that’s by design

Self-driving car startup Zoox is raising $500 million at a $3.2 billion valuation

Zoox, a once-secretive self-driving car startup, is closing a $500 million at a $3.2 billion post-money valuation, Bloomberg Businessweek reports. Prior to the deal, Zoox was valued at $2.7 billion, Zoox confirmed to TechCrunch. The round, led by Mike Cannon-Brookes of Grok Ventures, brings its total amount of funding to $800 million. Zoox’s plan, according… Continue reading Self-driving car startup Zoox is raising $500 million at a $3.2 billion valuation

Why Lyft President John Zimmer Thinks Scooters and Bikes Are Special

Lyft’s plan to change how people get to the grocery store and commute to work involves scooters and bicycles. Lyft co-founder and president John Zimmer said Tuesday at Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech Conference in Aspen, Colo. that his company’s mission has always been about providing an alternative to car ownership. And in some cases, “a bike… Continue reading Why Lyft President John Zimmer Thinks Scooters and Bikes Are Special

BMW’s Launching an Uber Competitor in Seattle

In this wacky new world of bike shares, electric scooters, OneWheels, and transit apps, automotive companies aren’t quite famous for their inspired, innovative business moves. But today, BMW is sending up the industry’s latest trial balloon. And it’s headed straight for airspace currently occupied by Uber and Lyft. Starting today, the automaker’s ReachNow arm, which… Continue reading BMW’s Launching an Uber Competitor in Seattle

Booking.com owner backs Chinese Uber rival Didi with $500m

The US owner of Booking.com has backed Chinese ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing to the tune of $500m (£380m) as the company eyes making in-roads into Western markets. Booking.com and other travel sites will now offer integration with Didi, presenting a way for Western travelers and tourists to book rides using the Chinese app which offers a… Continue reading Booking.com owner backs Chinese Uber rival Didi with $500m

Didi seeks $1.5 bln car services spinoff ahead of likely IPO -sources

HONG KONG: Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing Technology Co Ltd is looking to spin off its car services unit in a deal worth up to $1.5 billion, ahead of its expected initial public offering (IPO), people with direct knowledge of the matter said. While Didi has never confirmed its plans for an initial public offering,… Continue reading Didi seeks $1.5 bln car services spinoff ahead of likely IPO -sources

Lyft outlines bike and scooter plans

On the heels of Lyft’s acquisition of bike-share company Motivate, the company is gearing up to fully integrate bicycle and scooter sharing into the app. There’s no word on exactly when this will happen, but it’s likely this will happen soon. Lyft is also investing $1 million to advance transportation equity to people in underserved… Continue reading Lyft outlines bike and scooter plans

It is too early for regulation | NHTSA

In a statement, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has declared a regulation premature. In the US, traffic law is in the hands of individual states. A nationwide regulation for dealing with autonomous driving is for the time being failed, Many companies now fear a patchwork of 50 different regulations from 50 different states.… Continue reading It is too early for regulation | NHTSA