Detroit

Toyota brings the store to you

Las Vegas - Emiratesvoice

Self-driving buses aren't new, but Toyota's concept vehicle unveiled Monday aims to be more than just that -- a mobile platform for e-commerce, ridesharing and medical services, for a start. The Japanese auto giant's president Akio Toyoda unveiled the new initiative at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, seeking to get ahead of rivals offering single-use autonomous transporters. The "e-Palette" vehicle platformRead more

SoftBank seals deal for large Uber stake, trimming valuation

New York - Emiratesvoice

Japanese conglomerate SoftBank will pick up 15 percent stake in Uber and pump in USD 1 billion as primary investment in the US-based ride-hailing app in early 2018, according to multiple sources. The fresh capital infusion comes at a time when the company is looking at moving beyond the controversies it was mired in 2017 and further scaling up operations.Read more

Uber suffers new blow as EU court rules

london - Emiratesvoice

Uber has long said it's a technology company, not a transportation service, so it shouldn't have to follow the same rules as transport companies. But Europe's highest court disagrees. In a setback to the ride-hailing company, the European Court of Justice ruled Wednesday that Uber is a transportation service -- like taxi or black car services. That means the companyRead more

British city refuses licence for Uber

London - Emirates Voice

The city of York in northern England has refused to grant US ride-hailing app Uber a licence to operate, creating more headaches for the company in Britain after a similar move by regulators in London. The city's council explained its decision on Tuesday by citing recent complaints it had received about the service and a global data protection breach thatRead more

Trial pitting Waymo against Uber further delayed

San Francisco - AFP

The start of the trial in Waymo's suit against Uber over swiped self-driving car secrets was delayed once again Tuesday in the face of potentially troubling new evidence. Waymo and Uber confirmed that US District Judge William Alsup postponed the trial, which was scheduled to begin next week, to a date yet to be determined. Last-minute evidence reportedly came inRead more

Hackers stole data from 57 million Uber riders

San Francisco - Emirates Voice

Uber said on Tuesday that hackers compromised personal data from some 57 million riders and drivers in a breach kept hidden for a year. "None of this should have happened, and I will not make excuses for it," said a statement from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi, who took over at the ridesharing giant in August. Two members of the UberRead more

Rome gives taxi drivers courses to learn

Rome - Emirates Voice

Rome has started classes for hundreds of its taxi drivers to learn good manners and English. The city said Thursday 750 drivers are slated to take eight classes of “practical” English, lessons about “cultural manners” as well as instructions on how to make visitors feel welcome in Italy’s capital. In a country that greatly lives off tourism, Italians’ command ofRead more

Bitcoin, an 'Uber' currency, not without risk

Paris - Emirates Voice

Bitcoin, which this week soared to a new record high of more than $8,000, is the monetary equivalent of Uber, since it bypasses central bank regulation and could be attractive for financially fragile countries, economists say. Nevertheless, it is precisely the lack of oversight that opens up the users of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin to risks and dangers, analysts warn.Read more

Bitcoin, an 'Uber' currency,not without risk

Paris - AFP

Uber in legal crosshairs over hack cover-up

San Francisco - Emirates Voice

Two US states said Wednesday they are investigating Uber's cover-up of a hack at the ride-sharing giant that compromised the personal information of 57 million users and drivers. Uber purportedly paid data thieves $100,000 to destroy the swiped information -- and remained quiet about the breach for a year. That decision evidently came despite a promise by the firm toRead more