📢 Weekly Roundup: Lyft Announces New Autonomy Partners

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Lyft announces new autonomy partners. Just Eat Takeaway sells GrubHub. Uber threatens to deactivate thousands of drivers if pay increases. BlackWolf is expanding its rideshare service to Texas. Uber Eats is hiding driver info from customers. We break it all down for you.

Lyft Announces New Autonomy Partners, Expands Driverless Rides In App

SOURCE – TechCrunch

Lyft is expanding the number of autonomous rides on its platform after announcing collaborations with autonomous startups May Mobility, Mobileye, and Nexar. This announcement comes as Uber strikes partnerships with autonomous players, including Waymo, which adds a new source of ride inventory for the company.

• Lyft is no stranger to offering driverless rides on its platform, as it previously offered rides via partnerships with Motional and Argo AI, which have both ended.
• In partnership with May Mobility, Lyft plans to launch autonomous vehicles in Atlanta by 2025. May Mobility, known for running micro-transit services, will start with safety drivers and eventually transition to fully autonomous vehicles.
• The Mobileye collaboration will focus on allowing vehicles equipped with Mobileye’s AV technology to connect to the Lyft network.
• In collaboration with smart dashcam company Nexar, Lyft will merge Nexar’s video data into Lyft’s marketplace, which will create a valuable dataset for autonomous tech.
• Uber and Lyft are keen on these partnerships as they allow the companies to leverage existing autonomous technology without the need to develop it in-house. This strategy provides them with an additional pool of ride options, especially valuable during peak demand periods when there might be a shortage of human drivers.

Just Eat Takeaway Sells Grubhub for $650 Million

SOURCE – AP News

Just Eat Takeaway, a major player in the European food delivery market, has sold delivery service Grubhub to New York-based Wonder Group for $650 million, a significant decrease from the $7.3 billion purchase price in 2020. This sale includes $150 million in cash and $500 million in senior notes.

• Despite being a dominant player in Chicago and NYC, Grubhub has struggled against competitors like DoorDash and Uber Eats outside those markets, capturing only 8% of U.S. meal delivery consumer spending as of March 2024.
• The decision to sell was influenced by Just Eat Takeaway’s strategy to focus investment in regions where it can maintain a competitive edge.
• Wonder Group, known for its innovative “fast fine” dining experience, plans to integrate Grubhub to enhance its service offerings.
• Founded by Marc Lore, Wonder has expanded from delivery trucks to a more brick-and-mortar presence and recently acquired meal kit company Blue Apron.

Uber Threatens to Deactivate Thousands of Drivers If TLC Raises Pay

SOURCE – AM New York

Uber has issued a threat that it may deactivate thousands of New York City drivers if the Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) enacts further pay raises. Uber claims that existing minimum pay standards have increased fare prices, leading to reduced ride demand, along with other heightened costs in the market.

• Uber’s concerns stem from the unique utilization rate model employed by the TLC, which dictates pay based on driver engagement with passengers.
• With existing fees and taxes already among the highest globally, Uber argues that additional pay hikes could exacerbate the trend of declining trip volumes, particularly affecting lower-income areas.
• Uber’s Senior Economist, Rodrigo Moser, wrote in a blog that he hopes for a reassessment of the city’s pay calculation formula and a reduction in taxes and fees to stabilize prices and demand.
• Some driver advocacy groups accuse Uber of using scare tactics to avoid increasing driver pay.
• The TLC plans to unveil new regulations to address these issues, supported by an independent study on driver expenses.

BlackWolf Rideshare Expanding to Texas

SOURCE – The Dallas Morning News (Paywall free)

BlackWolf, a rideshare startup known for recruiting armed drivers, is set to launch in Dallas, Houston, and Austin by late 2024 or early 2025. Founded by Kerry KingBrown, the service gained a significant following on TikTok and Instagram after its initial launch in Atlanta in 2023.

• BlackWolf made its decision to expand to Texas after social media polling indicated high demand.
• The company plans to hire 35 to 50 drivers in each city, requiring candidates to have spotless background checks and at least four years of experience in the military, law enforcement, or security.
• BlackWolf positions itself as a higher-security option than traditional rideshares like Uber and Lyft, costing roughly 10-15% more, similar to Uber Black.
• It is unclear if BlackWolf will run into issues in its expansion to Texas, considering it had some regulatory issues in other states.

Why Is Uber Hiding Driver Info To Customers?

SOURCE – YouTube

In this week’s episode of “Show Me The Money Club,” RSG Senior Contributor Sergio Avedian and Chris Gerace delve into the recent changes within the Uber Eats app, where driver information is now being concealed on orders.

This adjustment appears to be in response to a rise in fraudulent and fake accounts that have been used to fulfill low-paying order demands. What is causing Uber to obscure driver details? Discover more by tuning in to this week’s episode of SMTMC!

QUICK HITS

• Uber Eats released its sixth annual Cravings Report, which spotlights crazy customer inquiries. – New York Post
• A good reminder of why drivers shouldn’t accept trips off the app: A driver in Fort Worth, Texas, was shot three times on an off-platform ride. – Fox News Dallas
• Chase is no longer offering complimentary Lyft Pink for members of its most popular premium credit card. – The Points Guy

Must Listen Or Watch RSG Content

Here are this week’s featured podcast episode and YouTube videos:

• RSG263: Justin Pappan on Renting a Fleet of Teslas! (EV Access)
• Massachusetts Uber/Lyft Drivers Win Right To Unionize
• Shave MILES Or TIME When Driving Uber & Lyft
• Driver Renting Tesla Earning $2000 A Week
• The Rideshare Guy en Español
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