Automotive and tech firms are poaching each other’s talent to pull ahead in the driverless car race October 3, 2016 Automotive and IT firms are poaching each other’s talent in a bid to nudge ahead in the driverless car race, according to research by CPA Global. Its analysis found that more than 20 patent inventors have made the switch from automotive to IT companies or vice versa since 2008, with Google’s self-driving car programme serving [...]
Uber rule changes: Transport for London to shake up private hire vehicle regulation – but it won’t insist on the five minute wait time January 20, 2016 Transport for London has revealed its plans to shake up private hire vehicles – including Uber – which would include formal English language requirements for drivers – but it won't insist on the controversial five-minute wait time. Other proposals include the introduction of guaranteed fare estimates for customers ahead of their journey, the provision of driver and vehicle details [...]
The grass is always greener… Three Goldman Sachs investment bankers leave for Uber November 25, 2015 It's supposed to be one of the dream jobs for any banker, but three Goldman Sachs employees think the grass is greener… at Uber. Three mid-level bankers from Goldman Sachs' technology investment banking group, based in San Francisco, have left to join Uber recently, which was first reported by Reuters. The bank has always had a close [...]
Who is Amy Lamé? All you need to know about Sadiq Khan’s first night czar November 4, 2016 The job advert caused a stir when it went up. An exciting proposition: Could you be the one to turn London into a true 24-hour city? Well, Sadiq Khan thinks Amy Lamé is the woman to do it. She'll work 2.5 days a week for £35,000. Not bad. The advert for the position said Khan was after [...]
Addison Lee profits under pressure from rise of mobile app challengers July 31, 2016 Addison Lee’s profits are being driven down by rising competition from mobile-based apps. The UK private car hire company owned by private equity giant Carlyle has reported post-tax earnings for the year to August dipped to £11.6m, down almost two-thirds from £32.9m in the previous year. New players in the market, led by US upstart [...]
Watch: Tesla’s self-driving cars revealed in video shared by Elon Musk October 20, 2016 All Tesla cars will have the capacity to drive themselves, company boss Elon Musk has revealed in a highly anticipated announcement which the entrepreneur had teased in tweets. All models, including the Model 3 and and Model X, will now be fitted with hardware that will make it possible to drive without human control. However, that [...]
Soon VW cars will let you control your home from the driving seat July 6, 2016 Troubled car maker Volkswagen is taking another step forward in its drive towards a technological future (and away from that emissions scandal) in a new tie up with electronics giant LG. Fresh from inking an investment in Uber rival Gett in a bid to become a "mobility company" rather than a traditional car manufacturer, the maker of VWs, Audis and Porsches [...]
Uber introduces a “business profile” option to make expensing work trips easier November 19, 2015 Uber has launched a new “business profiles” option to make sure people don't end up paying for work trips with their own money. It gives every Uber user the option of having an additional profile associated with work, so that all they have to do is select one or the other when calling an Uber. The idea [...]
Uber’s fightback: Petition against Transport for London’s private hire vehicle proposals passes 125k October 2, 2015 Uber's fightback against draconian new laws that would limit the use of taxi ordering apps in the capital has attracted more than 125,000 supporters in the days since the campaign was launched. Thousands of people have signed a petition of support set up by Uber late on Tuesday evening, responding to TfL's proposals to impose [...]
Uber vs London Taxi Drivers’ Association: Sajid Javid knows the benefits of enterprise November 24, 2015 One should never assume that a Secretary of State for Business will be, by nature, pro-business. Fortunately, the current occupier of the role, Sajid Javid, most definitely is. He possesses an instinctive understanding of the benefits of enterprise, competition and innovation. This perspective is doubtless the product of having witnessed his immigrant father save enough money [...]