Just about six months ago, Uber won a big battle with D.C. regulators to have its on-demand car service approved for operation within the nation’s capital. But new regulations from the D.C. Taxi Commission could severely hamper the company’s ability to offer low-cost services in the nation’s capital. → Read More
It’s hard to believe that it’s been less than a year since ride-sharing service Lyft first launched in beta, offering a low-cost alternative to on-demand black car service Uber. But not only has it grown aggressively in its home market since then, but Lyft has since begun offering service in Los Angeles and Seattle. It’s tacking on another city this weekend with a launch in Chicago. → Read More
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said that he hasn’t spoken to investors in a year and half about raising capital, denying reports that the company is raising funding at a $1 billion valuation. Reuters reported that story earlier today, citing one source. We had heard similar rumors over the past few weeks but they weren’t substantiated enough to report. That said, just because Kalanick… → Read More
In the coming weeks, the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission is expected to enter into its first trial of taxi e-hail apps. That’ll allow startups like Hailo that help users find nearby cabs through their mobile phones, without having to hail them from the street. At the same time, competition is coming from services like SideCar, which enables passengers to find rides from community drivers. → Read More
I’m a little embarrassed to admit how reliant I’ve become on Uber when I’m traveling — most regular cab drivers seem to find me terribly repellant — but now the service is now is working to expand its reach even further. The folks behind the on-demand car service announced earlier today that Windows Phone users now have a native app of their own, albeit one that doesn’t look quite as pretty as… → Read More
Uber is unsafe. Lyft, SideCar, and other ride-sharing services are unsafe. At the very least, there is the question of their safety for passengers. And why? Because they represent a new type of technology, a new way of doing things, and that is inherently scary. → Read More
Uber drivers are pissed off. But that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise… At least not to anyone who’s been paying attention. A group of UberBLACK drivers congregated outside of the company’s SOMA headquarters in San Francisco this evening, protesting the company’s business practices. But adopting the same strategy as Lyft and SideCar has pissed off a number of its UberBLACK partners. → Read More
A group of current and former Uber black car drivers gathered outside the startup’s San Francisco headquarters to protest what they said was unfair treatment by the company. When I arrived at around 5:45pm, a group of 30 or so were chanting, “No respect, no Uber!” every time someone left the building.
The person leading the chants, Rajab Alazzeh of SF Best Limo, had apparently been asked by the… → Read More
Transportation around Austin during SXSW might not be as painful as usual. Increased competition in the ride share market means that getting around will be a whole lot easier, as conference goers won’t have to sit around and wait for a taxi. Not just that, but transportation could be free, as both Uber and SideCar have committed to offering rides without payment over the next week or so. → Read More
It’s no big secret that Uber wants to get into the ride-share game, in an effort to compete directly with upstarts like Lyft and SideCar. After reaching a deal with the CPUC, the company announced plans to contract unlicensed drivers as part of its driver fleet. It announced today on its blog that it will begin on-boarding drivers to be part of its UberX service. → Read More
BlackJet, which we’ve described as the “Uber for private jets,” has announced San Francisco and Las Vegas as two new destinations. The company was founded by Garrett Camp, the co-founder of Uber, so it’s no surprise that the young company is already ramping up its coverage areas. What makes BlackJet so interesting is that the company has come up with a model to make… → Read More
On-demand car service Uber announced a new perks program that can instantly make a company cooler to work for. If you want to be able to provide transportation as a perk or benefit for your employees, Uber has the solution for you. The program allows companies to dole out “Uber credits” to employees and requires no long-term commitment, it’s just a month-to-month thing. The… → Read More
CEO Travis Kalanick previously had teased the idea of launching a ride-sharing option in a backstage interview at TechCrunch Disrupt. Now, however, with the regulatory risk associated with ride-sharing out of the way while the PUC reviews potential new regulation, Kalanick says the company is going to engage in competition directly with companies like Lyft and SideCar. → Read More
Just yesterday, the California Public Utilities Commission announced that it had struck an interim agreement with Lyft, wiping away any fines levied against the ride-sharing service and allowing it to continue operating while it evaluates potential new regulation. Today, Uber has reached an agreement with the regulator, which will suspend a cease-and-desist order and eliminate a fine against it. → Read More
On-demand car service Uber is teaming up with online social club Grouper, the companies announced this weekend. With a new program and promotional event called #UberGrouper, users can sign up for an exclusive deal in their city allowing them to use Uber as their luxury tranportation of choice on their Grouper meetups. To kick off the launch, Uber is giving away round-trip Uber rides, free drinks… → Read More
Uber is lowering its prices in San Francsico, as the company seeks to remain competitive with an influx of low-cost, on-demand transportation offerings in the city. The startup is also expanding availability of its lower-priced UberX service to all San Francisco users. Uber announced that the price of an Uber Black ride will decrease by 10 percent compared to the cost in 2012. → Read More
Uber has announced that it is expanding into Germany, where “Secret Ubers” are now operating in Berlin. The on-demand car service company’s first passenger in that German capital was another startup founder, Alexander Ljung of Soundcloud. The company said that its Berlin cars are still in testing phase, and that “more Ubers are getting on the road every day.” → Read More
Beyond its on-demand black car service, Uber is going a step further in trying to corner the transportation market by launching its e-hail taxi service in D.C. as well. The launch of UberTAXI will give users the choice of hailing one of Uber’s sedans at a premium, or hailing a cab at about the same rate that it would usually cost. → Read More
The Crunchies are coming: We know who the finalists are, we know that John Oliver is hosting, and we know that GZA is a special guest. However, the most important thing about the 6th Annual Crunchies, other than the companies that are being highlighted and rewarded, is you. → Read More
Like Airbnb, Uber has spawned a subset of startups that are looking to capitalize on the success of its premium, mobile, on-demand model and bring a little innovation to their chosen offline industries. Exec, Cherry, YourMechanic and Postmates are a few examples of the growing “Uber for X” category. Naturally, it was only a matter of time before the formula was applied to maids.
That’s right. … → Read More
It’s been a bumpy ride for Uber. The mobile-first, on-demand limo and taxi service is now in (or is soon to launch in) 24 cities. But, as you’ve likely heard by now, while Uber and its ilk may represent the future of “car-summoning” services, regulators, unions and existing services aren’t always so impressed. The service has faced the most virulent push-back in San Francisco, Chicago… → Read More
I just downloaded the latest version of Uber, and I was presented with a brand spanking new design, as well as message announcing Uber 2.0, explaining that it’s “a thorough overhaul” and that “as one of our top riders, we’re giving you the keys to our latest iPhone app before anyone else.” (Hey, I do spend more money on Uber than on food.)
The company declined to comment for this story, which… → Read More
TechCrunch’s Kim-Mai Cutler and I are in the Land of the Rising Sun this week, completing a series of startup interviews and talks, and guest moderating TechCrunch Disrupt Tokyo 2012.
Earlier today, amidst the breaking news that the California Public Utilities Commission had issued a series of citations and fines to a gaggle of transportation apps including Uber, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick also… → Read More
Earlier today, Corte Madera-based attorney Gary Oswald filed a class action lawsuit against Uber. The suit argues that the startup’s operations in San Francisco are illegal, because Uber is allegedly “acting as a taxicab company while sometimes denying this fact in order to avoid all regulations governing taxicab companies.”
In response, Uber just sent out a brief statement from its attorney… → Read More
In its effort to challenge proposed regulations that would lead to the shutdown of its black car service in Chicago, Uber is trying to recruit supporters via an online petition at Change.org.
The petition, which you can read (and if you’re so inclined, sign) here, is titled: “Chicago BACP: Don’t Kill Uber! Remove the No Measured Rates Provision.” → Read More
Another day, another regulator seeking to shut down Uber. At least that’s what it looks like, this time in Chicago. The Chicago Business Affairs and Consumer Protection department proposed new regulations for limo services that would essentially prohibit car services from using electronic devices to measure time and distance to determine fares when picking up and charging users. → Read More
Uber has just sent out an update via email regarding the pricing options in New York after Hurricane Sandy. Surge Pricing is back.
Yesterday, the company implemented Surge Pricing — a higher rate during times of high demand — and then abruptly turned it off after a poor reaction by the internet. Instead, the company charged regular pricing, yet paid the drivers at Surge Price rates… → Read More
With the subway system down for the count in the wake of mega-storm Sandy, it’s very, very tough to get around New York City today. And this morning, people who opened up their Uber apps to hail a car in Manhattan were met with another obstacle: “Surge pricing,” which is when Uber hikes up fare prices during especially busy times. → Read More
Hailo, the company that began life as an app for easily hailing and paying for black cab service in London less than a year ago, has now officially kicked off service in Boston, its first U.S. city. The app-based taxi service got its sea legs in Europe first in London, and then with an expansion to Dublin, and then moved across the pond with a launch in Toronto a little less than a month ago at… → Read More
It’s no secret that Uber’s disruptive on-demand car and taxi service is ruffling feathers amongst the taxi industry. It seems that in every city in which Uber launches, there’s legal pushback from the industry that the startup is disrupting. We’ve seen this in D.C., San Francisco, New York and Boston. Today, Chicago joins the mix, with a new lawsuit filed by a group of taxi and livery companies in… → Read More
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Disrupt Europe: Berlin Hackathon
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