Jump to content
Forums Gone... but not forgotten!
Pontiac of the Month

FBIRD69's 1969 Firebird

2024 March
of the Month

  • Rev up your passion for Pontiacs and join our vibrant community of enthusiasts!

    Whether you're a die-hard fan of classic muscle cars or you've got a soft spot for sleek modern models, you've found your home here at Forever Pontiac. Our community is dedicated to celebrating everything Pontiac, from the iconic GTO to the legendary Firebird and everything in between.

    Unlock access to expert advice, stunning photo galleries, engaging discussions, exclusive events, and more!

    Start your Pontiac journey with us today!

    Sign up now! 🏁

Car and Driver: GM Invests $500 Million in Lyft to Create Network of Self-Driving Taxis


FeedBot

Recommended Posts

GMLyftInvestment
-General Motors just made a sizable bet on the future of ride-sharing, to the tune of a half billion dollars.

-

The automaker announced today that it’s investing $500 million in Lyft, the ride-sharing app with the cloying pink mustache logo, establishing “a long-term strategic alliance to create an integrated network of on-demand autonomous vehicles in the U.S.”

-

As GM lays it out, the investment in Lyft will give the ride-sharing startup access to the automaker’s extensive research into autonomous-car technology. The newly-forged partnership also makes GM a “preferred provider of short-term use vehicles to Lyft drivers.”

-

Lyft and GM did not give a time estimate for when they believe the autonomous network will go online. As part of the partnership, GM has secured a seat on Lyft’s board of directors.

-

But it’s the long-term view that seems to be the hook for GM: The automaker and the startup both envision a future where the ride you hail from your smartphone app is completely self-driving. “We see the future of personal mobility as connected, seamless, and autonomous,” GM President Dan Ammann said in the press release. Lyft president and co-founder John Zimmer added, “Together we will build a better future by redefining traditional car ownership.”

-

General Motors President Dan Ammann (center) with Lyft Inc. co-founders John Zimmer (right) and Logan Green (left)

-
General Motors President Dan Ammann (center) with Lyft Inc. co-founders John Zimmer (right) and Logan Green (left).
-

The move makes sense for GM—partnering with Lyft gives the automaker access to new customers in the near term (via the new rental/lease program for Lyft drivers), and a built-in fleet customer in Lyft itself once autonomous vehicles become trustworthy enough to replace human Lyft drivers.

-

In theory, it sounds similar to Ford’s new partnership with Google: A legacy automaker moving to secure a place at the table in a world with a shifting concept of mobility. In an interview with the New York Times, Lyft’s Zimmer said, “We strongly believe that autonomous-vehicle go-to-market strategy is through a network, not through individual car ownership.” It’s not surprising, then, that GM would work to secure a long-term customer in preparation for a future vision that circumvents individual car ownership. “We think there’s going to be more change in the world of mobility in the next five years than there has been in the last 50,” Ammann told NYT.

-
--
-

It’s also a boon for Lyft: With GM’s money making up half of the startup’s latest $1-billion funding round, Lyft is now valued at $5.5 billion—although this still lags far behind front-running competitor Uber, currently valued at $62.5 billion according to NYT.

-

This story originally appeared on Road & Track.

-f6wgCoY081k

Read Full Article

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tired of these Ads? Register Today!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Tired of these Ads? Purchase Enhanced Membership today to remove them!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.