R.I.P. Uber?

[pcslookout]

If I ever go to Brazil I have to try Uber Helicopter!

 

[pcslookout]

Not so fast.

 

[Rifter]

I dont think we will see fully auto cars for at least a few decades if not longer in NA. For insurance reasons. Insurance is going to want to require a real human for the oh shit situations.

For example who makes the call of who dies if someone absolutely has to? like if there is a situation where its car hits them and kills them or car swerves probably killing the cars occupants what is the auto car going to do?

 

[desura]

Yeah, I think this automated driver thing Uber is doing is pretty stupid. Like, Uber's system screws up so often that it would be unworkable for automated cars to really work. And beyond that, riders would beat the crap out of cars without drivers to defend them. And you'd need a central garage to house all of these cars which is a real estate expense and staff to keep them maintained. It doesn't make sense at all.

Uber loses money because they are doing Capex on stupid stuff like automated cars, and because they run promotions to keep drivers driving and because they keep fare rates artificially too low. Uber could raise fares by 25% and people wouldn't notice. What they should be doing is working state and local governments. Do stuff like get uber to replace bus services. Buses are seriously wasteful and shitty transportation system, and they tend to lose money in operation anyways.

 

[SearchMaster]

It could be a way for Uber to build some intellectual property to make the company more valuable as well.

If Uber is truly about to RIP as the OP suggests, then having some patents and documented research in the arena of autonomous vehicles. Otherwise they're just an app, some source code, and a failed business model.

 

[Imp]

There are 4 Uber or ride-sharing related threads on page one... more than one are necros. Huh?

 

[desura]

Like, Uber has a pretty good moat. It's kinda like eBay or Facebook this way. network effects are pretty killer.

 

[Murloc]

uber is a big bet, their value is being the only game in town. Being this the transportation sector, local authorities can fuck with them with public services though, so it's dangerous.

 

[Red Squirrel]

While I think the idea of Uber is neat, and it does create jobs, I personally never had an issue with taking a regular cab, so I never even think of Uber when I need a ride. I don't even know if we have any Uber drivers here, probably not. Gas is too expensive to make it worthwhile.

 

[gorcorps]

uber is a big bet, their value is being the only game in town. Being this the transportation sector, local authorities can fuck with them with public services though, so it's dangerous.

How is Uber the only game in town?

 

[Zorba]

Yeah, I think this automated driver thing Uber is doing is pretty stupid. Like, Uber's system screws up so often that it would be unworkable for automated cars to really work. And beyond that, riders would beat the crap out of cars without drivers to defend them. And you'd need a central garage to house all of these cars which is a real estate expense and staff to keep them maintained. It doesn't make sense at all.

Uber loses money because they are doing Capex on stupid stuff like automated cars, and because they run promotions to keep drivers driving and because they keep fare rates artificially too low. Uber could raise fares by 25% and people wouldn't notice. What they should be doing is working state and local governments. Do stuff like get uber to replace bus services. Buses are seriously wasteful and shitty transportation system, and they tend to lose money in operation anyways.

The main point of buses is to remove cars from the road. Although the operation of buses themselves usually lose money, they save a ton of money on infrastructure investment. Replacing buses with Uber cars would have the opposite affect.

 

[RLGL]

PT said there was one born every minute

 

[desura]

The main point of buses is to remove cars from the road. Although the operation of buses themselves usually lose money, they save a ton of money on infrastructure investment. Replacing buses with Uber cars would have the opposite affect.

I really have to disagree here.

Bused are humongous, way too big, most of the time they are empty or partial capacity. They are rarely used at full capacity. Their high weight and large turning radius causes problems for other vehicles and of course damages the roads much more than ten passenger cars would. Their diesel fumes are very polluting and their rides suck. They are very noisy and unpleasant generally and I'd rather walk than take a bus. The bus is the worst way to get around.

 

[Murloc]

How is Uber the only game in town?

in many cities it is

 

[Muse]

subscribed (watch thread doesn't work)

 

[BoomerD]

meh...good riddance to them.

 

[ultimatebob]

Amazon hasn't returned a profitable yr/qrt yet I believe, and their stock is still valuable. As long as they don't run out of credit, they can still operate.

Amazon is profitable, but they put all of their profits back into expanding the business. That's one of the main reasons that they are such a huge company now.

Uber, on the other hand, is burning through billions of VC capital while trying to figure out how to become profitable. Different story.

 

[JSt0rm]

You better be right, because Uber has about 8B in the bank and they lost more than an 1/8 of it already. They cannot continue with these loses or they will become bankrupt really quick. The route data is relatively useless, as it's a high level map of driving. Self driving cars must comply with traffic, lights, signs, construction etc... We're a good 10 -15 years away from reliable automated cars in the city.

It's so much closer then that. Anyone working in transportation now should start training for new work. It's going to be fast and painful.

 

[Capt Caveman]

in many cities it is

No cabs?

 

[mxnerd]

Uber's Loss Exceeds $800 Million in Third Quarter on $1.7 Billion in Net Revenue
Ride-hailing company's annual loss may hit $3 billion by year's end

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...n-third-quarter-on-1-7-billion-in-net-revenue

And Uber is valued at $69 billion? Unbelievable!

 

[BarkingGhostar]

How exactly do you value an asset-less company so high? And do these losses include payouts of all of the lawsuits running about.