Tag: Uber

  • Tesla’s In-House Robotaxi Platform Revealed by Uber CEO

    Tesla’s In-House Robotaxi Platform Revealed by Uber CEO

    Key Takeaways

    1. Tesla is seen as a direct competitor to Uber, as they declined collaboration on the robotaxi service.
    2. Uber’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, remains open to future partnerships despite Tesla’s decision to develop ride-hailing services independently.
    3. Khosrowshahi highlighted the potential benefits of a partnership with Tesla to stabilize demand in the autonomous vehicle market.
    4. Tesla is actively advancing in the ride-hailing sector, including testing a mobile app for booking rides.
    5. Tesla plans to launch the two-seat Cybercab in October 2024, which will operate with Unsupervised Full Self-Driving technology.

    Uber’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has disclosed that Tesla will be a direct rival to his company, as Tesla declined an offer for collaboration on its forthcoming robotaxi service. According to a report by Fortune, both Khosrowshahi and Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk had several talks, but Musk firmly stated that the ride-hailing service would be developed entirely in-house.

    Competing Head-to-Head

    Khosrowshahi mentioned, “I’ve had discussions with him at this point. They want to build it alone, so in a way, in Austin, we and Waymo will be going against Tesla when they launch… Life is long, but we would love to partner with them.” This indicates that despite the competition, Khosrowshahi remains open to future collaboration.

    Strategic Partnership Appeal

    Khosrowshahi emphasized the advantages of a possible partnership with Tesla at the time of launch. He noted that Uber could help ensure a steady demand for newcomers in the autonomous vehicle (AV) market, which can often see fluctuating interest.

    Tesla’s Ride-Hailing Advancements

    Tesla has been advancing in the ride-hailing sector. They revealed the mobile app for booking rides during an investor call last year. Currently, the company is testing the service with its staff in California and Texas, following the introduction of the two-seat Cybercab, which lacks a steering wheel, in October 2024. This self-driving vehicle will be utilized to initiate Unsupervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) in June.

    Source:
    Link

     

    Tags: , ,
  • California Requires Fingerprint ID for Uber Drivers Picking Up Teens

    California Requires Fingerprint ID for Uber Drivers Picking Up Teens

    Techcrunch has informed us that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has set a deadline of 30 days for Uber to follow a new law. This law requires the company to obtain fingerprint identification from drivers if it wants to keep offering rides to unaccompanied teenagers.

    Cost Implications for Uber

    Uber will have to take on the expenses related to this new requirement. Recently, the company introduced a service named Uber for Teens, which allows children aged 13 to 17 to book rides through their parents’ accounts. In the past, both Uber and Lyft successfully prevented a law that would have made it necessary for drivers to submit their fingerprints for identification in California.

    Uber’s Stance on Fingerprint Checks

    Uber has previously stated that requiring fingerprint checks might discourage potential drivers from joining the platform, arguing that its own background checks are sufficient. The company also claims that if it has to cover the costs for these fingerprint checks, it could lead to higher fares for passengers.

    Safety Measures for Transportation of Minors

    Moreover, the CPUC requires any service that transports minors to provide information on how they will ensure safety features are implemented. For its background screening, Uber relies on a third-party service called Checkr, which specializes in background checks.

    Tags: , ,
  • Uber Drivers Can Earn Free Model Y and Model 3 Credits with Tesla

    Uber Drivers Can Earn Free Model Y and Model 3 Credits with Tesla

    Tesla is teaming up with Uber to offer free credits to drivers who decide to switch to a Model Y or Model 3.

    Details of the Offer

    Uber drivers who qualify will receive $1,000 in Tesla Credits when they take delivery of a new Model 3 or Model Y. Once they complete 100 Uber trips using their new Tesla, they will earn an additional $1,000 in cash.

    These Uber drivers who choose the Model Y or Model 3 can use their Tesla Credits for charging costs, services at a Tesla center, buying a new Tesla, or various accessories. It’s important for them to maintain good standing with Uber. This initiative is also beneficial for Tesla, as many Uber drivers are increasingly utilizing Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature, which allows them to work longer hours with less effort.

    Impact on Driving Data

    As more Uber drivers adopt the Model Y or Model 3, the number of miles logged with Full Self-Driving (FSD) will grow significantly. This data will be valuable for Tesla in its regulatory filings. The company is working hard to persuade state authorities that FSD is safer than human drivers, which is crucial for the approval of their upcoming Robotaxi service for use on city streets. Tesla aims to achieve this milestone in the upcoming quarters, allowing for the introduction of unsupervised FSD.

    By doing so, Tesla plans to enable Model Y and Model 3 owners to participate in its emerging Cybercab ride-share platform, providing demonstration rides to test the service while waiting for the Robotaxi launch.

    Challenges Ahead

    However, Tesla will need to accumulate a significant amount of distance covered using FSD and ensure a notable increase in safely driven miles before receiving approval for unsupervised FSD in urban areas. One effective way to reach these targets is to encourage Uber drivers to purchase Model Ys or Model 3s, knowing they will likely be motivated to use FSD.

    This strategy explains the newly created section for Uber drivers on Tesla’s website, where they can find an offer of up to $2,000 in free credits toward the purchase of a Model Y or Model 3.

    Despite Uber’s CEO expressing skepticism about the profitability of Tesla’s ride-share model, particularly concerning a driverless Robotaxi, Tesla is tackling the challenge another way—by incentivizing Uber drivers to select its vehicles and accumulate FSD miles.

    Tags: , ,