Roger Fingas
Uber on Monday revealed several new features for its core iPhone app — including live location sharing with drivers — as well as an agreement with Volvo that will see it buy and equip 24,000 vehicles with self-driving systems.
The app's live location option can be toggled by tapping a round button in the lower-right corner of the map. When on, a rider's actual position is broadcast to an incoming driver, instead of just the original pickup point.
Uber has additionally expanded its Beacon support to Chicago, New York City, and San Francisco. Beacons are mounted in drivers' windshields, and glow a rider-selected color to make it easier to pair up. That color in turn takes over a rider's screen, allowing them to flash their phone to get attention.
The app now also includes gifting options, and the ability to order a ride for a guest even if they don't have a smartphone. After selecting a different rider, that person will will get an SMS message with details like ETA and their driver's contact information.
The Volvo deal will see Uber buy XC90 SUVs in a period stretching from 2019 to 2021, according to Bloomberg. Uber will outfit the vehicles with its own sensors and software.
Volvo's engineers have reportedly been working closely with Uber on a "base" driveless vehicle that the latter company can add on to. In exchange, though, Volvo will be able to use the same platform for its own commercial self-driving cars, due in 2021.
Uber has been testing autonomous vehicles in some markets, with the eventual goal of completely replacing its human driver pool. The company hasn't set a definite timeframe for when it will exit testing.
Christine McKee
William Gallagher
Malcolm Owen
Andrew Orr
Sponsored Content
13 Comments
I do not trust Uber enough to give them my access to my information. However I will be watching to see how this deal pans out.
I'm a rideshare driver. I just don't see how a self driving car would deal with road conditions in southeast Florida.
Uber probably won't be long for this world anyway. They've trimmed their losses to "only" about $645 million in the last quarter, so they're losing only over two billion dollars a year. I hate them so much that I intend to buy Didi Chuxing stock as soon as their IPO is offered sometime next year. If Didi is good enough for Apple, they're good enough for me.
I will no longer use Uber after finding out how horrible of a company they are.
Not sure this is a good idea for Uber. Their whole business model is based on the idea that they don't own any vehicles, or employ drivers, so the costs of maintenance and liability are the responsibility of the people who drive for them.
This is almost as big a reversal of their policy as finally admitting they're a taxi company and volunteering to be governed by the same rules.