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Lyft and Waymo Reach Deal to Collaborate on Self-Driving Cars

nytimes.com

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Re: Lyft and Waymo Reach Deal to Collaborate on Self-Driving Cars

#61

Post by rorykoehler »

jfoster wrote: post #50
alistproducer2 wrote: post #14

When I use lyft now, I'm coming across drivers that only drive for lyft. The tide has definitely shifted against Uber. I'm not really sure there's a way back at this point. The one advantage Uber had was network effect, but in my experience that has diminished. Lyfts come just as fast as Ubers now because they have enough drivers on the road to support the response time. I'll never go back to Uber.

Lyft barely exists outside of the US. Uber is still on top if you take a global view.

Lyft have a deal with Grab here in Southeast Asia. As I understand I can use Grab to book Lyfts in areas where Lyft operates and Grab doesn't (and vice versa).

Re: Lyft and Waymo Reach Deal to Collaborate on Self-Driving Cars

#62

Post by Larrikin »

spike021 wrote: post #37
alistproducer2 wrote: post #14

When I use lyft now, I'm coming across drivers that only drive for lyft. The tide has definitely shifted against Uber. I'm not really sure there's a way back at this point. The one advantage Uber had was network effect, but in my experience that has diminished. Lyfts come just as fast as Ubers now because they have enough drivers on the road to support the response time. I'll never go back to Uber.

Odd. I'm in the Bay Area and have taken many Lyft's lately both in the south bay and also the peninsula. Usually the drivers I get drive for both even up to this point. Could just be regional, not really sure? I feel like even with Uber's issues many drivers who do ride-sharing as a "job" won't want to just drop Uber as it may mean losing out on income (not sure if they can make up the loss with driving more for Lyft…

In Chicago and Richmond atleast the drivers I've talked to that are doing it for a full time job tend to drive Uber, Lyft and every other small start up in the area. The drivers that aren't just getting started said they use Uber for volume but will take a Lyft over Uber because of the better pay. The only drivers I've had that are Uber only are just getting started/trying it out.

The drivers I've talked to that just do it for a little extra cash overwhelmingly prefer Lyft. Most said it is because of the better pay but I've also heard more than once that Lyft customer's tend to be more well behaved in the car for whatever reason.

To be fair, this is all anecdotal and I usually prefer not making chit-chat but if the driver insist I always ask them their preference since the driver's always have an opinion that is interesting enough for the duration of the ride.

Re: Lyft and Waymo Reach Deal to Collaborate on Self-Driving Cars

#63

Post by paulddraper »

lern_too_spel wrote: post #42
koolba wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not GP but I use them for clients. For personal use I'd be fine with a rickshaw.

At this point, some clients would be offended just for ordering an Uber for them, black car or not.

Huh? Why?

Re: Lyft and Waymo Reach Deal to Collaborate on Self-Driving Cars

#64

Post by [deleted] »

Larrikin wrote: post #62
spike021 wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Odd. I'm in the Bay Area and have taken many Lyft's lately both in the south bay and also the peninsula. Usually the drivers I get drive for both even up to this point. Could just be regional, not really sure? I feel like even with Uber's issues many drivers who do ride-sharing as a "job" won't want to just drop Uber as it may mean losing out on income (not sure if they can make up the loss with driving more for Lyft…

In Chicago and Richmond atleast the drivers I've talked to that are doing it for a full time job tend to drive Uber, Lyft and every other small start up in the area. The drivers that aren't just getting started said they use Uber for volume but will take a Lyft over Uber because of the better pay. The only drivers I've had that are Uber only are just getting started/trying it out. The drivers I've talked to that just…

[deleted]

Re: Lyft and Waymo Reach Deal to Collaborate on Self-Driving Cars

#66

Post by paulddraper »

ridgeguy wrote: post #51
sikosmurf wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. I feel like there is no way Uber would be on the brink of bankruptcy and not be able to fundamentally change the problems that have persisted so far. I guess what I'm getting at is that a company valued at 69 billion dollars going out of business in less than 2 years should be a surprise to everyone .

Valuation differs from cash in the bank. Uber could be valued at a gazillion $, but if it can't make payroll in 90 days, it's got a problem that would be tough to fix, given the apparent lack of a profitable business model.

Sure, but they could sell 1% of their company (loans, equity) and have one percent of a gazillion dollars.

Re: Lyft and Waymo Reach Deal to Collaborate on Self-Driving Cars

#67

Post by touchofevil »

msoad wrote: post #31
touchofevil wrote: post #25

If Alphabet really wants to mess with Uber, why don't they just buy Lyft and offer lower ride pricing/higher driver pay for as long as it takes to put Uber out of business?

That's going to take a lot of dollars..

True, but if anyone has a lot of dollars it's Alphabet.

Re: Lyft and Waymo Reach Deal to Collaborate on Self-Driving Cars

#68

Post by joering2 »

Honest question: why there is no reverse type bidding system for picking a ride?

Let me tell you when im going and where to, where i am and what time i need to be there. Then you have x amount of hours/minutes to bid. The lowest bid gives me ride, unless i want to click few more checkboxes like [x] verified rider [x] minimum 4.5 star rider, etc.

Re: Lyft and Waymo Reach Deal to Collaborate on Self-Driving Cars

#69

Post by tim333 »

ridgeguy wrote: post #51
sikosmurf wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. I feel like there is no way Uber would be on the brink of bankruptcy and not be able to fundamentally change the problems that have persisted so far. I guess what I'm getting at is that a company valued at 69 billion dollars going out of business in less than 2 years should be a surprise to everyone .

Valuation differs from cash in the bank. Uber could be valued at a gazillion $, but if it can't make payroll in 90 days, it's got a problem that would be tough to fix, given the apparent lack of a profitable business model.

The recent figure for what it's worth (end 2016):

revenue $6.5 billion

losses excluding China $2.8 bn

$7 billion of cash on hand, along with an untapped $2.3 billion credit facility (bloomberg)

So they are not going bust tomorrow but whether they can build a real business from that is quite questionable.

Re: Lyft and Waymo Reach Deal to Collaborate on Self-Driving Cars

#70

Post by Gaelan »

jfoster wrote: post #50
alistproducer2 wrote: post #14

When I use lyft now, I'm coming across drivers that only drive for lyft. The tide has definitely shifted against Uber. I'm not really sure there's a way back at this point. The one advantage Uber had was network effect, but in my experience that has diminished. Lyfts come just as fast as Ubers now because they have enough drivers on the road to support the response time. I'll never go back to Uber.

Lyft barely exists outside of the US. Uber is still on top if you take a global view.

Like the other reply said, Lyft's strategy is partnerships with local companies.
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