Recent stories about Uber/Lyft

Europe's competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager. Photo by Bloomberg

Europe’s Regulatory Traffic Jam: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · July 14, 2020 5:31 PM PDT

European regulators seem to be caught in a traffic jam of cases against big U.S. tech companies. It’s a situation we could easily see develop in the U.S. in the not-too-distant future, an interesting wrinkle that is likely to work to some companies’ advantage.The logjam in Europe has emerged in recent days as we have been waiting to... European regulators seem to be caught in a traffic jam of cases against big U.S. tech companies....

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Photo by Bloomberg

Why Uber’s Postmates Deal Doesn’t Deserve Celebration: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · July 6, 2020 5:47 PM PDT

Uber's 6% stock price rise on Monday suggests investors like the company's $2.65 billion acquisition of Postmates. And it is, in theory, a way to shore up Uber Eats' restaurant food delivery in some U.S. cities and consolidate the market.But investors should curb their enthusiasm. Postmates’ share of the U.S. market in... Uber's 6% stock price rise on Monday suggests investors like the company's $2.65...

Illustration by J.Claeys

Uber CEO Wants to Shift More Engineering Jobs to India, Sparking Internal Debate

By Amir Efrati · July 2, 2020 7:01 AM PDT · 6 comments

Since Dara Khosrowshahi became CEO of Uber in 2017, he has been steadily pushing his engineering team to move jobs to India as a way of saving money. Despite some resistance from his top technology executive, Khosrowshahi made progress: about 15% of Uber’s engineering team, or about 600 people, is now in India. That’s up from 80... Since Dara Khosrowshahi became CEO of Uber in 2017, he has been steadily pushing his engineering...

An Uber Eats delivery person in Japan. Photo by Bloomberg.

Uber Misses Out on Grubhub—But That May Not Be All Bad

By Amir Efrati · June 10, 2020 1:36 PM PDT · 2 comments

An Uber Eats delivery person in Japan. Photo by Bloomberg.

amazon uber/lyft

Uber Misses Out on Grubhub—But That May Not Be All Bad

By Amir Efrati · June 10, 2020 1:36 PM PDT · 2 comments

The planned merger of U.S. online food-ordering pioneer Grubhub and its European counterpart, Just Eat Takeaway—a deal the companies announced on Wednesday—will disappoint investors in Uber. The ride-hailing and food-delivery giant last month offered to buy Grubhub. But Just Eat is a more suitable partner for Grubhub.Just Eat, like... The planned merger of U.S. online food-ordering pioneer Grubhub and its European counterpart,...

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Photo by Bloomberg.

Uber’s Grocery-Delivery Expansion Plans Face Questions as Chains Rebel

By Amir Efrati · June 3, 2020 7:01 AM PDT · 1 comment

Uber faces legal challenges in California over its handling of drivers, while its effort to acquire online restaurant food ordering pioneer Grubhub is likely to get mired in an antitrust review if the companies ever reach a deal. Meanwhile, Uber's effort to get into grocery delivery is running into problems before it even starts.Uber's... Uber faces legal challenges in California over its handling of drivers, while its effort to...

uber/lyft covid-19

Where Are Most Tech Layoffs? Not Silicon Valley

By Cory Weinberg · May 26, 2020 11:02 AM PDT

Some of San Francisco’s most well-known tech firms have cut deep into their staffs in recent months. But much of the pain is being felt outside the Bay Area. An analysis of public filings from 20 tech firms based in the region, including Uber, Lyft and Airbnb, show that three-quarters of employees laid off worked outside the region,... Some of San Francisco’s most well-known tech firms have cut deep into their staffs in...

A person runs past a building under construction at the Google campus in Mountain View, California, U.S., on Thursday, May 21, 2020. Photo: Bloomberg

uber/lyft startups

Welcome to the 3-Day Office Week: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · May 22, 2020 7:00 PM PDT · 1 comment

This week seemed the perfect time to ask our subscribers about their plans to return to the office. While tech companies are starting to mark their calendars for when some employees head back to the workplace, Mark Zuckerberg’s expectation that half of Facebook employees will work remotely in five to 10 years seemed to draw a line in... This week seemed the perfect time to ask our subscribers about their plans to return to the...

A DoorDash delivery person in New York City in March. Photo by Shutterstock

Reality Check: Are Food Delivery Apps Actually Awful Businesses?

By Amir Efrati · May 22, 2020 12:09 PM PDT · 10 comments

A DoorDash delivery person in New York City in March. Photo by Shutterstock

uber/lyft e-commerce

Reality Check: Are Food Delivery Apps Actually Awful Businesses?

By Amir Efrati · May 22, 2020 12:09 PM PDT · 10 comments

In the past week, Uber’s attempt to buy Grubhub and a memorable story about DoorDash’s money-losing tactics have sparked a wave of critical press and social media dunks on the U.S. restaurant delivery industry.It’s easy to understand why. Countless mom-and-pop restaurants fighting to survive amid the Covid-19 downturn are... In the past week, Uber’s attempt to buy Grubhub and a memorable story about...

GrubHub delivery bicycles in New York City. Photo by Shutterstock

policy uber/lyft

Why Regulators Aren’t Likely to Block an Uber-Grubhub Deal

By Christopher Stern · May 22, 2020 7:00 AM PDT · 1 comment

Democratic lawmakers have stepped up their attacks on a possible merger between Uber and Grubhub, accusing the companies of seeking to profit from the Covid-19 crisis. Yet antitrust experts said that robust competition in the meal-delivery business will make it tough for regulators to block the deal if the two companies reach an agreement.On... Democratic lawmakers have stepped up their attacks on a possible merger between Uber and Grubhub,...

CloudKitchens founder Travis Kalanick

startups e-commerce

Two Senior Engineers Quit Kalanick’s CloudKitchens

By Amir Efrati · May 15, 2020 3:23 PM PDT

Two senior engineers who last year joined CloudKitchens, the commercial kitchen startup founded by former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, abruptly resigned this week, The Information has learned. Their departures raise questions about whether the company could lose other engineers at a time when it is seeking to significantly expand its... Two senior engineers who last year joined CloudKitchens, the commercial kitchen startup founded...

Ann Miura-Ko. Photo courtesy of Floodgate

startups uber/lyft

Startups Face a ‘Fundamental Reset,’ Says VC

By Kate Clark · May 13, 2020 11:36 AM PDT · 1 comment

Ann Miura-Ko is no stranger to investing during a crisis. She got her start in venture capital as an analyst on September 10, 2001. She co-founded her seed-stage fund, Floodgate, in 2008 just as Bear Stearns was collapsing. The current shock set off by the global coronavirus pandemic seems worse. “This is actually a fundamental reset.... Ann Miura-Ko is no stranger to investing during a crisis. She got her start in venture capital as...

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. Photo by Bloomberg

Twitter Sparks San Francisco Questions: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · May 12, 2020 6:57 PM PDT

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. Photo by Bloomberg

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Twitter Sparks San Francisco Questions: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · May 12, 2020 6:57 PM PDT

In 2003, not too long after the dot-com collapse wiped out internet startups all over San Francisco, I wrote a story for The Wall Street Journal about artists and other bohemian types reclaiming the city from tech interlopers. LOL. If there’s one thing San Francisco has shown again and again over the decades, it’s that fortune... In 2003, not too long after the dot-com collapse wiped out internet startups all over San...

Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, in June 2019. Photo by Bloomberg

uber/lyft covid-19

Uber Managers Asked for Pay Cut to Save Jobs. The CEO Said No

By Amir Efrati · May 12, 2020 3:07 PM PDT · 7 comments

In late April, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi called a meeting of the executives in charge of the ride-hailing firm’s nearly 4,000-person engineering department to tell them they needed to plan to cut headcount by 20%. Some of the engineering leaders responded that they and other managers would be willing to cut their own pay if it meant they... In late April, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi called a meeting of the executives in charge of the...

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. Photo by Bloomberg

The Truth About Airbnb and Uber Layoffs

By Jessica E. Lessin · May 9, 2020 7:47 AM PDT · 3 comments

When Cory broke the news that Airbnb was planning to lay off 25% of its staff this week, I wasn’t surprised by the cuts. The pandemic has wiped out demand for travel. It has been clear that no travel business would be spared from cost-cutting. But the scope of the cuts—a quarter of the company or some 1,900 people—did... When Cory broke the news that Airbnb was planning to lay off 25% of its staff this week, I...

Stephen Zhu. Photo by Didi.

The Big Interview

Exclusive: Top Didi Executive Outlines How Ride-Hailing Will Bounce Back

By Yunan Zhang and Shai Oster · May 7, 2020 7:01 AM PDT · 2 comments

After a two-month lockdown, China is coming back to life. Even without a big marketing push or substantial discounts, Didi Chuxing has seen use of its ride-hailing apps recover to about 70% of their levels before Covid-19, as The Information previously reported. But Didi’s senior vice president Stephen Zhu hints that the West may not... After a two-month lockdown, China is coming back to life. Even without a big marketing push or...

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. Photo by Bloomberg

Curbing Tech Ambitions: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · May 6, 2020 6:13 PM PDT

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. Photo by Bloomberg

uber/lyft covid-19

Curbing Tech Ambitions: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · May 6, 2020 6:13 PM PDT

Today brought so many tech headlines it’s hard to know where to begin. Uber confirmed the layoffs Amir previously reported. And then there was more big news from Facebook, as well as first quarter updates from Lyft and Peloton. I've been wondering lately whether Silicon Valley companies, as they downsize, are going to pare back... Today brought so many tech headlines it’s hard to know where to begin. Uber confirmed the...

Disney's headquarters in Burbank, Calif. Photo by Bloomberg

uber/lyft covid-19

Disney’s Dividend Symbolism: The Information’s Tech Briefing

By Martin Peers · May 5, 2020 6:36 PM PDT

Greetings!We got more evidence today that the pandemic is likely to accelerate the shift in economic power from entertainment to tech. Disney, the mightiest of the Hollywood giants, suspended its half-yearly dividend, symbolizing just how much entertainment has been devastated by the current crisis. Last week, when big tech companies reported... Greetings!We got more evidence today that the pandemic is likely to accelerate the shift in...

Lime scooters in Gothenburg, Sweden, last year. Photo: AP

uber/lyft covid-19

Uber in Talks to Lead $170 Million Lime Investment at Lower Valuation

By Cory Weinberg and Amir Efrati · May 4, 2020 4:52 PM PDT · 1 comment

Uber is in talks to lead a $170 million financing in scooter rental firm Lime, whose business has dropped sharply amid the coronavirus pandemic, executives at the startup told investors last week. The potential deal would value Lime on paper at $510 million, after the proposed cash infusion, a 79% drop from its previous valuation.Uber already... Uber is in talks to lead a $170 million financing in scooter rental firm Lime, whose business has...

Uber CTO Thuan Pham. Photo by Bloomberg

uber/lyft covid-19

Uber Discusses Plan to Lay Off About 20% of Employees

By Amir Efrati · April 28, 2020 12:48 PM PDT · 5 comments

Executives at Uber are discussing plans to cut around 20% of the company’s employees, as it copes with a sharp decline in its ride-hailing business due to the coronavirus pandemic, The Information has learned.Layoffs of that magnitude, which haven’t been finalized but could be announced in stages in the coming weeks, could result in... Executives at Uber are discussing plans to cut around 20% of the company’s employees, as it...

Symantec's former headquarters in Mountain View that Alphabet was expected to buy. Photo by AP

Alphabet Leads Tech Retreat on Real Estate Deals

By Cory Weinberg · April 21, 2020 7:01 AM PDT · 2 comments

Symantec's former headquarters in Mountain View that Alphabet was expected to buy. Photo by AP

google real estate

Alphabet Leads Tech Retreat on Real Estate Deals

By Cory Weinberg · April 21, 2020 7:01 AM PDT · 2 comments

Google’s parent company, among the San Francisco Bay Area’s largest property owners, is starting to pull back from its decadelong land grab.Alphabet in recent weeks has broken off talks to buy or lease more than 2 million square feet of office space in the Bay Area, including what would have been one of the largest ever real estate... Google’s parent company, among the San Francisco Bay Area’s largest property owners,...

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