ride-hailing

Baidu’s Apollo Go and Lyft are partnering to launch driverless taxi services in Europe, starting in Germany and the UK by 2026. The plan involves deploying thousands of Apollo Go’s autonomous vehicles, leveraging Lyft’s operational expertise. This collaboration follows a similar alliance with Uber and aims to expand Apollo Go’s global reach, building on its existing fleet of over 1,000 autonomous vehicles operating in 15 cities. The goal is to provide safer, greener, and more efficient transportation options to European riders.

Didi Chuxing has launched “Four-Wheel Errand,” a luggage transfer service utilizing its private car fleet. Aimed at easing travel burdens, the service facilitates seamless luggage transportation, targeting vacationing families and business travelers. Didi is partnering with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), piloting the service at over 300 Holiday Inn Express hotels in Shanghai, Beijing, and other cities, with plans to expand to other IHG brands and transportation hubs. This move expands Didi’s service offerings and caters to the tourism sector’s needs, offering a “travel light” experience.

A potential ban on gasoline-powered vehicles for ride-hailing in Beijing, allegedly effective July 20th, has sparked significant reactions. News of the policy, attributed to the China Urban Public Transportation Association, caused EV drivers to rejoice while gasoline car drivers expressed concerns over vehicle depreciation and loans. The used car market reportedly saw a drop in prices for gasoline-powered ride-hailing vehicles.

A sophisticated scam targeting ride-hailing drivers is circulating in China, as exposed by an automotive influencer. The “cash-for-damage” scheme involves staged accidents where drivers are deliberately caused to collide with other vehicles. Victims are then later sued for lost income and vehicle downtime, costs not usually covered by insurance. Perpetrators exploit traffic laws and delayed lawsuits to maximize fraudulent claims, making the scam highly effective. Drivers are advised to avoid admitting fault and insist on footage review by traffic police.

The ride-hailing industry is facing new allegations of exploiting drivers through “shadow contracts.” A driver in Lhasa, China, reported a significant fare discrepancy, with passengers paying 45.1 yuan while the driver received only 39.68 yuan. This discrepancy, potentially due to complex commission structures and order shifting among sub-platforms, highlights concerns about fare transparency and driver earnings, echoing previous similar reports.