Uber strikes a partnership with Cruise for robotaxis, Lyft CEO puts his money where his mouth is with his recent stock purchase, DoorDash revamps its deactivation appeals process, and an Uber Eats courier goes viral for her confrontation over tip baiting. We break it all down for you.
Uber Will Offer Cruise Robotaxis On Its Platform Next Year 🚗🤖
SOURCE – Reuters
Uber has struck a deal with GM’s Cruise to offer robotaxi rides on its platform starting next year. This move comes as Cruise attempts to make a comeback after a major accident in San Francisco last year forced the company to halt operations.
- It remains to be seen how this partnership will affect drivers on the Uber platform and whether it will lead to a reduction in available rides for human drivers. It’s also unclear when and where the partnership will launch.
- The commercialization of autonomous rideshare has proven to be more challenging and time-consuming than anticipated due to complex technology, high investments, regulatory scrutiny, and federal investigations. Uber previously sold its own self-driving division in 2020 to focus on its core business.
- Last week, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi shared his skepticism regarding Tesla’s ability to effectively execute its robotaxi plans. He highlighted several challenges that Tesla may face in the ride-sharing business.
Lyft CEO David Risher Buys Over $500K Worth of Company Stock 💰📉
SOURCE – Investing.com
Lyft CEO David Risher recently purchased approximately $501,000 worth of company stock, acquiring 51,815 shares at an average price of $9.66 per share. Insider transactions like this can provide valuable insights into the sentiments of company leaders regarding the rideshare company’s performance and outlook.
- Despite recent challenges and adjustments to price targets by analyst firms, Lyft has shown some positive developments, such as reporting its first-ever GAAP profitability in Q2 2024 and experiencing a significant increase in driver and rider engagement.
- On “Show Me The Money Club,” Senior RSG Contributor Sergio Avedian offered his take on the purchase: “When an executive, like a CEO or CFO, puts their hard-earned money buying shares, you got to pay attention. He can invest in anything, but he’s probably seeing value in Lyft stock between $9 and $11.” Watch the segment.
DoorDash Revamps Deactivation Appeals Process, Adds PIN Code 📱🍕
SOURCE – DoorDash Newsroom
DoorDash has announced significant updates to its account deactivation process to try to make the process fairer to its couriers, as well as a new PIN code system that should cut down on inaccurate reports from customers.
The changes include a streamlined in-app appeals process, protection against inaccurate claims about undelivered orders, and faster response times to appeals.
- The in-app appeals feature allows Dashers to launch an appeal directly within the app after receiving a deactivation notification, track the status of their appeal, and receive the outcome.
- Additionally, DoorDash has introduced a PIN code system to prevent inaccurate or false reports from consumers.
- The company says it has invested more resources into its reviews team to ensure quicker and more accurate resolution of appeals, with most cases being resolved within a few business days.
Uber Eats Courier Confronts Tip-Baiting Customer In Viral TikTok 😠💵
SOURCE – TikTok
In a TikTok video that’s gone viral, Dawn Garza, a Texas Uber Eats driver, confronted a customer named Eric, an employee for Dallas’ public transit system, accusing him of “tip baiting.” Garza claimed that Eric had initially tipped $21 for a $143 Target order but later reduced the tip to zero after delivery.
- Eric denied accessing the app after the delivery, but Garza provided screenshots from Uber Eats confirming the tip reduction. She urged Uber Eats to implement a more effective system to prevent tip reductions.
- Even Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi fell victim to tip baiting while working undercover as a driver in California. During his secret stint, Khosrowshahi encountered various operational difficulties and was surprised by some customers’ behavior.
Are Uber’s Ads Creating Dangerous Conditions for Rideshare Drivers? 📢😩
SOURCE – YouTube Shorts
There’s a new TV commercial out from Uber in Massachusetts that’s going viral within the driver community, claiming drivers make a minimum of $32.50 an hour, along with other benefits.
However, there are many problems with this ad, which are causing issues for rideshare drivers. Be sure to learn more by watching this YouTube Short!
Also, check out Sergio and Chris’ discussion on the topic during “Show Me The Money Club.”
QUICK HITS
A Lyft passenger noticed that the driver was caught by three-speed cameras. He later checked the Washington D.C. ticket website and discovered that the driver had accumulated a staggering $23,000 in unpaid traffic tickets. – @JimOffAir on X.com
Uber is offering up to 20% extra when accepting trips in a row. The promotion screenshot shows Uber offering an extra 5% per Uber trip a driver accepts in a row during something called a bonus period. – RSG YouTube Short
New York City’s Taxi Commission will now allow rideshare vehicles to contain advertising screens. – Straight Arrow News
Must Listen Or Watch RSG Content
Here are this week’s featured podcast episode and YouTube videos:
- RSG260 – Blind Rideshare Passenger Shares Her Riding Experience
- Are Tips Better On Uber Or Lyft?
- Uber CEO Downplays Tesla Robotaxi
- Why Do Drivers Complain BUT Still Drive Uber & Lyft??
- The Rideshare Guy en Español
- Make sure you Subscribe so you don’t miss out on future conversations and interviews!