Uber Technologies Inc.

[CityFarmer]

The action against Uber in France, has started. Uber will definitely put up a good fight...

Uber execs to face trial for ‘deceitful practices’

Two executives from California-based Uber will face trial in France on Sept 30, in part of a French crackdown on what the government calls an illegal taxi service.
...
http://www.todayonline.com/tech/uber-exe...-practices

[CityFarmer]

Uber is burning money, faster that the sales coming in...

Uber mirrors Amazon in penchant for spending

SAN FRANCISCO — Uber Technologies, a start-up with losses that have outstripped revenue, is drawing fresh comparisons with another tech giant that has a reputation for spending: Amazon.

Uber had an operating loss of US$470 million (S$633 million) on US$415 million in revenue in an unspecified time period, based on information shown to potential investors in the ride-sharing service. An Uber spokeswoman has called the numbers “substantially old”.
...
http://www.todayonline.com/tech/uber-mir...t-spending

[CityFarmer]

Uber is too obvious a target, as the front-runner...

Chinese, US ride-hailing apps in anti-Uber deal

SAN FRANCISCO — Chinese ride-hailing company Didi Kuaidi — in which Temasek Holdings is an investor — has agreed to a cross-border partnership with Lyft of the United States in a deal that will allow each company to serve the other’s passengers and aligns them against a common competitor: Uber.
...
http://www.todayonline.com/tech/chinese-...-uber-deal

[CityFarmer]

The anti-Uber effort is escalating...

Didi gears upanti-Uber alliance with Ola investment

SHANGHAI — China’s most popular ride-hailing app, Didi Kuaidi — in which Temasek Holdings is an investor — said yesterday it has invested in Indian peer Ola, in a further sign of a growing global alliance within a network of companies challenging American rival Uber Technologies.

The investment comes as part of Ola’s latest fundraising round, which people familiar with the situation said was expected to give the Bangalore-based group a valuation of US$5 billion (S$7 billion), as well as extra funds to counter Uber’s expansion into India, the Financial Times reported.
...
http://www.todayonline.com/tech/didi-gea...investment

[CityFarmer]

China approach to tackle the "taxi service" by private car. I reckon Singapore authority will make its new rules on the matter...

China to ban use of private cars in online taxi hailing services

BEIJING – China’s transport ministry is drafting rules for online car-hailing services to protect passenger safety by banning the use of private cars.

Operators of online ride-booking services will be held accountable for potential disputes, the ministry said in a statement on its website today (Oct 10). The government is also encouraging traditional taxi companies to upgrade their services using mobile-Internet technologies, according to the statement.

China is considering regulations that would force ride-booking apps such as Uber and Didi Kuaidi to use commercially registered cars and drivers, and would allow city governments to limit permits for those services, people familiar with the plan said last month. The proposed framework will challenge their current business model of signing up owners of privately owned cars and matching them with riders.

The growing use of such apps in China has made taxi hailing more difficult for those who don’t use them because some taxi drivers sometimes rely only on online orders, the ministry said in a separate statement. BLOOMBERG
http://www.todayonline.com/chinaindia/ch...g-services

[brattzz]

Didi Kuaidi = sounds cute!

Just tax Uber and all the private car drivers for operating in the country,
That should be a good source of revenue for the gov!

If Uber/Pte cars drivers can prove to work within the statutory biz costs and still be competitive in terms of P&L, it's a good leveler for the current taxi transport model, which efficiency and costs are fast becoming an issue!

[CityFarmer]

Didi Kuaidi = sounds cute!

Just tax Uber and all the private car drivers for operating in the country,
That should be a good source of revenue for the gov!

If Uber/Pte cars drivers can prove to work within the statutory biz costs and still be competitive in terms of P&L, it's a good leveler for the current taxi transport model, which efficiency and costs are fast becoming an issue!  

P&L is one aspect, but quality is another. In my own experience, I have numerous unsatisfied encounters with "traditional" taxi drivers. I rate myself as an accommodating passenger, but I was always treated as "competitor" instead of "customer" by the taxi driver. It seems we are in a "zero-sum game", and a very stressful experience.

After I have a choice of "newly innovated" taxi drivers, mainly GrabTaxi drivers, I have a new experience. I was treated as "customer" most of the time, in a "win-win game". At the end of the journey, I am a more satisfied passenger, and likely they will get more customers for returned booking.

[yawnyawn]

Didi Kuaidi = sounds cute!

Just tax Uber and all the private car drivers for operating in the country,
That should be a good source of revenue for the gov!

If Uber/Pte cars drivers can prove to work within the statutory biz costs and still be competitive in terms of P&L, it's a good leveler for the current taxi transport model, which efficiency and costs are fast becoming an issue!  

P&L is one aspect, but quality is another. In my own experience, I have numerous unsatisfied encounters with "traditional" taxi drivers. I rate myself as an accommodating passenger, but I was always treated as "competitor" instead of "customer" by the taxi driver. It seems we are in a "zero-sum game", and a very stressful experience.

After I have a choice of "newly innovated" taxi drivers, mainly GrabTaxi drivers, I have a new experience. I was treated as "customer" most of the time, in a "win-win game". At the end of the journey, I am a more satisfied passenger, and likely they will get more customers for returned booking.

Same here. I have been using Uber almost every week since Oct 2014. Based on my experiences, Uber drivers are mostly below <40 years old and most hold a full time job. I get treated well as a customer and I engage in conversations with them. I rate Uber much higher than our normal Comfort/Transcab taxi.

Unfortunately, it seems that Uber Singapore has brought in many new Uber drivers and causing the supply/demand to be imbalanced and many Uber drivers are complaining about the reduction in take-home pay due to this.

[yeokiwi]

The current incentive model of Uber/Grabcar is not going to work in the long term.
As much as we think that the ComfortDelgro, SMRT etc are fat asses that have a high cost structure, the combo of "Uber/Grabcar + car rental companies + workshops" is also neither cheap either.

In effect, if the incentives for drivers are removed, I doubt the Uber/grabcar drivers are going to have a good monthly income.

There are drivers that are complaining now...
http://uberpeople.net/forums/Singapore/

Actually, does Uber operate almost like MLM? They create incentives to attract new drivers and at the same time, "control" the income stream of the current drivers. The current drivers were then attracted to referral incentives to boost their income or meet some demanding targets to get extra incentives.

Unlike taxis that roam the street, Uber controls the drivers' income 100% by allocating jobs. I suppose if they want to, they can reduce the income of any driver to zero.
It might be interesting if the Uber's job allocation algorithm is somehow leaked..

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/ubers-p...abs?update

I hope LTA and IDA can work together to create an app for Singapore cab drivers + freelance drivers that has a fair algorithm.

[CityFarmer]

I really doubt, Uber has "income control" on their drivers practically, with the current competition among Uber/Grabcar/Others. Any unfavorable "control" on drivers, will be seized by competitor(s) for market share. Current trend is to capture market share, thus the various incentive schemes. 

I didn't dig into the biz model detail, but I "guess" the model should be more cost efficient, comparing with the "traditional" service, otherwise the "traditional" service has already created the disruption.