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Uber offers settlement to some drivers over worker status
Uber drivers may in the US are out of luck pursuing class action lawsuits that would force the company to treat them as employees. They might, however, get something for their trouble -- with some caveats. TechCrunch has learned that Uber has offered a tentative settlement to those drivers who've pursued individual arbitration cases over their worker status. Uber would pay them 11 cents for every mile they've driven during trips (including for services like Uber Eats). However, drivers would also have to drop all worker misclassification claims against Uber.
Uber's fight over worker status is headed to the UK Supreme Court
Uber is about to face a definitive battle over its classification of ridesharing drivers. The UK Court of Appeal has upheld a 2016 ruling that Uber drivers are considered employees and thus qualify for holiday pay, the minimum wage and other protections. As Uber told Wired it planned to appeal the decision in the country's Supreme Court, the company now faces a definitive battle over worker status.
Uber cleared to resume self-driving tests in Pennsylvania
Uber has edged closer to resuming self-driving car tests following the fatal crash in Arizona. The Information has learned that Pennsylvania's Department of Transportation approved the ridesharing company's request to start testing autonomous vehicles in the state. This doesn't mean you'll see vehicles back on the road in the immediate future, though. Uber has confirmed the approval to Engadget, but cautioned that it has nothing to share about when it will return to the road -- that won't happen until sometime in the weeks ahead, when Uber begins very limited tests.
Just like Lyft, Uber has confidentially filed for its IPO
On Thursday we learned Lyft filed papers for an initial public offering set to take place in 2019, and Friday evening some "people familiar with its plans" said the same to the Wall Street Journal about ride-hailing rival Uber. According to the New York Times, Uber also filed its paperwork with the SEC on Thursday, setting the stage for both companies to compete over who can get their shares on the market first. Ever since replacing Travis Kalanick last year, getting the company through its IPO has been a major consideration for CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, and this news means it could happen sooner than previously-anticipated, moving it from mid- or late 2019 to the first quarter of the year. These transportation apps have seen some of the biggest growth lately, but they're not the only tech companies preparing to go public, with others like Slack and Airbnb potentially in line. The companies have similar incentives with employees and investors alike waiting to cash in, amid worries of a possible recession and the issue that both are reportedly unprofitable. Bankers have apparently estimated Uber's IPO value at $120 billion, well above the $72 billion estimate from its last round of funding so you can see why they would want to strike.
Lyft may become a public company before Uber
Lyft is smaller than Uber, but it might just one-up its rival on the stock market and provide some fiercer competition. Wall Street Journal sources have learned that Lyft has filed documents with the SEC for its expected initial public stock offering, and hopes to sell shares in March or April. While Uber has long talked about an IPO, it has been targeting a debut in the second half of 2019. There could be a few months where Lyft is your only major choice if you want to invest in an American ridesharing company.
Lyft will offer automatic tipping and driver ratings
Lyft is launching another campaign to improve the experience for its drivers, and at least a few of the changes could affect you as a passenger. In December, it's conducting a limited launch for both default tipping and mid-ride tipping. If you always tip at the end of a journey or occasionally forget to tip after you've stepped out, this will make sure your driver gets your money. Only "select" passengers will see this at first, but it'll be more widely available in 2019.
Lyft rewards program will offer perks to frequent riders
Lyft thinks it has a simple way to reel people into its service: shower frequent riders with perks. It's launching a Rewards program in December for "select" passengers. The more you travel, the more points you'll get toward bonuses like ride upgrades and more experienced drivers. There will also be double-points days to encourage you to head out.
Lime will reportedly test car-sharing service in Seattle
Bike- and scooter-sharing startup Lime is looking to test car rentals in Seattle, according to a report from The Information. Lime, which launched in early last year and operates in markets across 26 US states, has boasted that its scooters have taken cars off the road in cities where it operates. Now, it's reaching for a piece of the growing car-sharing market with a small host of around 500 cars made by Fiat Chrysler. There's no concrete date set for when Lime will begin offering the new service, but an application submitted to Seattle's car-sharing program in October indicates it could happen very soon.
Lime offers free bike and scooter rentals on Election Day
If you're looking for a way to the polls this Election Day, you can snag a free ride via bike or scooter from Lime. The company is offering free trips on its fleet of shared bicycles, e-bikes, and occasionally abused electric scooters on Tuesday, November 6th.
Lyft buys an AR company to bolster its self-driving car efforts
Lyft is ramping up it self-driving car strategy on two fronts. To start, the ridesharing mainstay has acquired Blue Vision Labs, a UK-based augmented reality firm whose underlying technology helps cars both know their location and understand their surroundings. The startup will join Lyft's Level 5 team (that is, working on complete autonomy) to contribute its knowledge. TechCrunch has also learned that Blue Vision will serve as the "anchor" for a London research and development wing.
Uber launches its safety hub for European passengers
Uber's recent safety push is spreading to Europe. The ridesharing service is launching a safety center in its app for the UK and 23 other European countries to provide many of the safeguards that launched stateside earlier in the year. You can share trip details with trusted contacts, quickly access emergency services and read safety-related info like GPS tracking policies and customer support options. It will also anonymize pickup and drop-off locations for drivers, and UK users will also have the choice of two-factor authentication to add a layer of security.
Lyft's $299 All-Access service is available across the US
Lyft's fledgling subscription service is no longer an experiment. The ridesharing company's All-Access Plan is now widely available in the US, potentially saving you money if you regularly hail cars to get from A to B. In its finished form, the plan has you paying $299 per month to get 30 'free' trips of any type worth up to $15 each (you pay the difference above that), with a 5 percent discount on additional journeys. You can sign up for the plan starting today, and it should be available to every American customer by the end of the week.
Waze's carpooling service is now available all over the US
Waze has gradually been expanding its Carpool app to states around the US, and now it's rolling out everywhere. From today, drivers and ride-seekers in all 50 states can use the app to save time and money getting around, while helping reduce congestion on the roads.
Lyft's dump-your-car challenge expands to 35 more cities
Lyft is happy enough with its Chicago car ownership challenge to spread it across North America. The ridesharing service is launching a Ditch Your Car program that offers a similar challenge in 35 cities, including New York City, San Francisco and Toronto. The basic principle remains the same: sign up by the end of September and, if you're lucky, you could get enough free transportation options to leave your car at home. What you get varies from city to city, but you'll typically receive Lyft Shared credit, Zipcar access and a local pass for either mass transit or bike service.
Court rules Uber can force drivers into arbitration over pay, benefits
Uber drivers hoping to be treated as employees may have to go it alone. A federal appeals court in San Francisco has overturned a ruling that would have allowed drivers to pursue their case as a class action lawsuit instead of going through individual arbitration (which, historically, favors companies over complainants). Judge Richard Clifton cited precedent as the reason, including both another ruling in favor of Uber from 2016 as well as a Supreme Court decision from May that said companies could make workers waive their right to class actions for a number of disputes.
Lyft marks its 1 billionth ride as it expands beyond cars
Lyft may be an underdog relative to Uber, but it's still huge in the transportation world. The ridesharing firm has officially provided 1 billion rides, including 233 million shared rides. That pales in comparison to Uber's 10 billion trips. However, Uber also got a three-year head start (2009 versus 2012) and has focused on international expansion where Lyft only ventured outside the US last year. It's doing well considering its scale.
Lyft brings its electric scooters to Santa Monica
You no longer have to be a Denver resident to try Lyft's electric scooters. The two-wheeled transports are now available in Santa Monica, California under a city pilot program. As usual, it'll cost you $1 to unlock a scooter and 15 cents for every minute you're putting around town. And yes, Lyft is aware of scooters' bad rap. The company has vowed to both watch the effects of the rollout as well as work with "city officials and policymakers."
Uber tests its own traffic estimates as it moves beyond cars
Uber has used Google traffic data to estimate conditions in the past, but the company is now trying to go its own way. The ridesharing firm told TechCrunch that it's expanding a previously low-key test that relies on its own traffic data. Fire up the passenger app (it's already in use by all drivers) and you'll see a color-coded representation of traffic along your potential route, calculated both through historical trip info and real-time info from drivers' phones. They're only available on unshared rides for now.
Uber hopes a new font will symbolize its turnaround
Uber has been through a lot since it booted Travis Kalanick: a new CEO, a new management team and an emphasis on doing things by the book (even if it proves costly). But how is it supposed to convey that it turned a corner besides ads? Through a new font, apparently. The ridesharing firm has unveiled a new look that revolves around a new typeface, Uber Move. It's unique, inspired by transportation fonts (think road signs and subways) and works in every country where Uber has a presence.
Mercedes self-driving van concept swaps bodies to match its cargo
Self-driving vehicles are useful for hauling both people and cargo, but you can usually only prioritize one of those tasks unless you can afford to buy separate vehicles. Mercedes-Benz might have a solution to the problem: build a machine that can change its role on demand. Its Vision Urbanetic concept van uses a modular body system to switch between people-carrying and cargo duties, with an electric-powered platform underneath.
