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G.M. Invests $500M in Lyft

nytimes.com

11–20 of 402 posts

Re: G.M. Invests $500M in Lyft

#11
post #9

So Google+Ford, Lyft+GM, Tesla on both sides software/hardware... Where is Uber's Hardware going to come from now? I wonder if this is an instance where the personalities involved with Uber are having a detrimental effect on these sorts of long-term needs. Or is there something yet to be announced?

To answer my own question after thinking for a couple minutes: maybe VW's fall will put it in a position for Uber to get in play.

Re: G.M. Invests $500M in Lyft

#12
post #6

I don't know whether this is a real difference or not, but Lyft "feels" like a much nicer company than Uber. I'm not thrilled about Lyft's rampant hipster-branding, but Uber seems like a company run by pricks. Maybe it's just because they're the underdog, but I'm really rooting for Lyft.

Think back to Uber's beginning. It was incredibly elitist - only black cars, twice what a taxi cost, etc. Even the name reflects that. They're almost at parity now though, at the normal person level in Chicago at least. I get nearly killed by either on my bike just as easily :)

>I get nearly killed by either on my bike just as easily

Glad I'm not the only one who notices these cars randomly driving slowly or parked in the bike lanes waiting for the next ride to come in.

Ride safe..

Re: G.M. Invests $500M in Lyft

#13

I don't know whether this is a real difference or not, but Lyft "feels" like a much nicer company than Uber. I'm not thrilled about Lyft's rampant hipster-branding, but Uber seems like a company run by pricks. Maybe it's just because they're the underdog, but I'm really rooting for Lyft.

The big difference for me is that Lyft allows you to tip in the app that's very telling.

Re: G.M. Invests $500M in Lyft

#15

I don't know whether this is a real difference or not, but Lyft "feels" like a much nicer company than Uber. I'm not thrilled about Lyft's rampant hipster-branding, but Uber seems like a company run by pricks. Maybe it's just because they're the underdog, but I'm really rooting for Lyft.

When I was in Colorado Springs, Lyft was much more available than Uber so I used it for the first time after only having ever used Uber for the past year. The major thing I found different was the driver wanted me to sit in the front and was much more enthusiastic about conversation. It wasn't bad but it was definitely different and somewhat offputting. Not sure if that was just a single event, but I wonder if each c…

That convivial atmosphere is one of the things that originally set Lyft apart. More recently, they've tried to figure out how to balance that with people who prefer silence. http://thehub.lyft.com/blog/2015/7/14/giving-betterrides-gre...

Re: G.M. Invests $500M in Lyft

#16

I don't know whether this is a real difference or not, but Lyft "feels" like a much nicer company than Uber. I'm not thrilled about Lyft's rampant hipster-branding, but Uber seems like a company run by pricks. Maybe it's just because they're the underdog, but I'm really rooting for Lyft.

When I was in Colorado Springs, Lyft was much more available than Uber so I used it for the first time after only having ever used Uber for the past year. The major thing I found different was the driver wanted me to sit in the front and was much more enthusiastic about conversation. It wasn't bad but it was definitely different and somewhat offputting. Not sure if that was just a single event, but I wonder if each c…

Sounds like a Colorado Springs effect. Here in NYC I've used both fairly evenly and (unsurprisingly) the experiences are fairly similar and in line with the typical "uber" style of sitting in the back and not talking unless you choose to reach out...

Re: G.M. Invests $500M in Lyft

#17
post #9

So Google+Ford, Lyft+GM, Tesla on both sides software/hardware... Where is Uber's Hardware going to come from now? I wonder if this is an instance where the personalities involved with Uber are having a detrimental effect on these sorts of long-term needs. Or is there something yet to be announced?

Fiat/Chrysler? Renault? Nissan?

I doubt Toyota or Honda will bother with Uber. But who knows!

Re: G.M. Invests $500M in Lyft

#18
post #13

I don't know whether this is a real difference or not, but Lyft "feels" like a much nicer company than Uber. I'm not thrilled about Lyft's rampant hipster-branding, but Uber seems like a company run by pricks. Maybe it's just because they're the underdog, but I'm really rooting for Lyft.

The big difference for me is that Lyft allows you to tip in the app that's very telling.

Yes, especially since I've heard horror stories about Uber drivers one-starring customers for not carrying cash.

Re: G.M. Invests $500M in Lyft

#19
post #9

So Google+Ford, Lyft+GM, Tesla on both sides software/hardware... Where is Uber's Hardware going to come from now? I wonder if this is an instance where the personalities involved with Uber are having a detrimental effect on these sorts of long-term needs. Or is there something yet to be announced?

Didn't Uber buy the Carnegie Mellon robotics division? Is it too much to think they might try for their own hardware platform?

It might be, but why else do so?

Re: G.M. Invests $500M in Lyft

#20
post #11
post #9

So Google+Ford, Lyft+GM, Tesla on both sides software/hardware... Where is Uber's Hardware going to come from now? I wonder if this is an instance where the personalities involved with Uber are having a detrimental effect on these sorts of long-term needs. Or is there something yet to be announced?

To answer my own question after thinking for a couple minutes: maybe VW's fall will put it in a position for Uber to get in play.

Interesting point about VW: To my knowledge VW has no car sharing/CaaS service in Germany. Others are better setup if self driving cars take over: Opel (GM) has one, BMW has one (DriveNow), Daimler has one (Car2Go).
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