Uber CEO Wants To Convince Riders To 'Share A Vehicle With Another Person' But Recent Safety Concerns Alarm Riders

Caleb Naysmith
3 min read
37
In this article:

At South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, Uber Technologies Inc. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi outlined his vision for the company's future. While the company aims for growth, recent safety concerns have cast doubts on the viability of its latest initiative.

Khosrowshahi highlighted Uber’s desire to expand its user base beyond the middle and upper classes, emphasizing affordability as a key focus. To achieve this, Uber intends to promote shared rides among passengers to lower costs, tapping into a demographic willing to sacrifice some convenience for savings.

Don't Miss:

"There's a certain percentage of consumers who are willing to give up a little bit of convenience in a ride with someone else in the car in order to save some money, and we really have to push that because we want to get Uber to be more affordable to many, many more people around the world," Khosrowshahi told Austin Mayor Kirk Watson.

Shared rides are commonplace in many countries with large vehicles accommodating 14 to 22 riders.

After pausing shared rides in 2020 because of the pandemic, Uber returned UberX Share in 2022. By taking a shared rider, single riders can save up to 20% off the total fare if they're matched with a co-rider along the way.

Trending: Here’s why you should never copy the CIA’s venture capital investment strategy.

The allure of reduced fares through shared rides is tempered by recent incidents that have shaken rider confidence. In the past few weeks, there have been multiple instances of riders facing fearful situations.

Last month, an Uber driver fled a traffic stop with a passenger onboard, leading to charges of aggravated kidnapping, evading arrest and traffic violations.

In another alarming incident earlier this month, an Uber was involved in a hit-and-run while carrying a family of passengers. The Uber driver chased the truck then crashed, severely injuring a 3-year-old who died on March 14.

As Uber pushes for increased ride-sharing, these incidents highlight the importance of addressing safety concerns. Riders are understandably wary of sharing vehicles with strangers, particularly in light of recent events. Balancing affordability with passenger safety will be crucial for Uber’s success as it navigates these challenges and seeks to broaden its user base.

Read More on Startup Investing: 

"ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now!

Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga?

This article Uber CEO Wants To Convince Riders To 'Share A Vehicle With Another Person' But Recent Safety Concerns Alarm Riders originally appeared on Benzinga.com

© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Advertisement

Recommended Stories

  • A New York Homeowner Was Arrested For Changing The Locks After Finding A Group Of Squatters In $1 Million Home She Inherited

    In Queens, New York, a homeowner's confrontation with unexpected occupants at her late father's house spiraled into a dramatic legal tangle that highlights the complex issue of squatter rights in the city. Adele Andaloro, 47, inherited a property valued at $1 million after her parents died. She discovered strangers living there during a visit to prepare the house for sale. When she changed the locks to secure the property, one of the occupants called the police, leading to her brief arrest. Thou

  • United Auto Workers reaches deal with Daimler Truck, averting potential strike in North Carolina

    The United Auto Workers union announced it reached a last-minute tentative agreement with truck and bus manufacturer Daimler Truck, averting a potential strike of more than 7,000 workers. It covers workers at various plants in North Carolina — where Daimler makes Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner and Western Star trucks — as well as distribution centers in Atlanta and Memphis, Tennessee. In an online speech, UAW President Shawn Fain said the new contract includes wage increases of more than 25% over the next four years, including a 10% raise after the deal is ratified.

  • Owner of exploded Michigan building arrested at airport while trying to leave US, authorities say

    The owner of a suburban Detroit business that caught fire and exploded, killing a man, was arrested at a New York airport as he was preparing to depart for Hong Kong on a one-way ticket, authorities said Friday. U.S. Customs and New York Port Authority personnel arrested Noor Noel Kestou, 31, on Saturday at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Kestou, of Commerce Township, was arraigned Thursday on an involuntary manslaughter charge.

  • Deal averts strike at Daimler North America as UAW celebrates pact

    A possible strike by Daimler North America workers was averted at the last minute late Friday with a four-year deal. The post Deal averts strike at Daimler North America as UAW celebrates pact appeared first on FreightWaves.

  • Swindlers Are Now Using AI. Here Are the Warning Signs.

    Interactive deepfakes such as live phone calls or video conferences with what seems to be a real person are becoming more common.

  • Millennium Slams Jane Street ‘Gamesmanship’ in Secrets Case

    (Bloomberg) -- Millennium Management accused Jane Street Group of playing games by not fully disclosing the proprietary trading strategy it claims was stolen by two former traders who joined Izzy Englander’s hedge fund group.Most Read from BloombergBHP’s $39 Billion Copper Play Was Years in the MakingFed Repricing Gives Rise to New Equities Playbook in AsiaApple Intensifies Talks With OpenAI for iPhone Generative AI FeaturesThe Long, Slow Death of Urban NightlifeMusk Makes Surprise China Visit,

  • The economy is moving us back into the 19th century as fertility rates plunge

    The U.S. birth rate from 2023 was down 2% from 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

  • Temporary farmworkers get more protections against retaliation and other abuses under new rule

    Temporary farmworkers will have more legal protections against employer retaliation, unsafe working conditions, illegal recruitment practices and other abuses under a Labor Department rule announced Friday. The new rule, which takes effect June 28, will target abuses experienced by workers under the H-2A program that undermine fair labor standards for all farmworkers. California has a vast agricultural industry, growing over a third of the country’s vegetables and nearly three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts and attracting a large number of farmworkers.

  • Dow Jones Futures: Nvidia Leads 7 New Buys As Market Roars; Fed, Apple, Super Micro Loom

    Nvidia and several other leaders flashed buy signals as the market roared. Investors should take advantage, but it's a jungle out there.

  • Want $1 Million In Retirement? Invest $250,000 in These 3 Stocks and Wait a Decade.

    These three tech stocks look like reliable long-term winners.