Uber looks to be in very big trouble if the allegations in Waymo’s lawsuit are true; this also may be what finally does in Uber CEO Travis Kalanick. Google, though, messed up too, in the same way they have before.
The Uber Conflation
It’s easy to conflate criticism of Uber’s regulatory approach with accusations about the company’s culture. That is CEO Travis Kalanick’s responsibility; it’s also a failure of all of tech.
Uber Losses (But China Gains?), Uber and Unit Economics, Reconsidering Uber
New Uber financials have leaked, showing more losses but perhaps unexpected gains in China. However, while it’s hard to gain insight without a view into Uber’s unit economics, that doesn’t mean the company shouldn’t be questioned.
Tech and Trump: The Meeting, Google Self-Driving Cars = Waymo, Uber Deploys Self-Driving Cars in San Francisco
The rhetoric of the president-elect in his meeting with technology executives was more worrying that it appears. Then, Google is forcing its self-driving car initiative to actually build a business, while Uber launches self-driving cars in San Francisco in the most Uber way possible.
Does Uber Have a Strategy Problem?, Netflix and Aggregation Theory, Google Trips
Is Uber bad at strategy? It would be understandable if they were. Then, Hollywood is finally realizing that Netflix is a textbook aggregator. Plus, why Google Trips exists
Uber’s Problematic Google Deal, Lyft’s Sales Pitch, Twitter’s Live Hail Mary
Uber took a shortcut with Google two years ago and are paying the price today, even if the wound is only temporary. Meanwhile, Lyft is costing Uber money but not strategic positioning, and seem to be marketing themselves to acquirers. Plus, mourning the end of what Twitter could be (and no, the NFL didn’t help).
Google, Uber, and the Evolution of Transportation-as-a-Service
The competition between Uber and Google has broken out into the open: who has the advantage in the evolution of transportation-as-a-service, and who will likely win?
Uber-Didi Follow-up, SalesForce Buys Quip
More on Uber and Didi, and why the evaluation of this deal depends on the lens you use. Then, why Salesforce bought Quip, and what that says about both enterprise startups and Salesforce versus Microsoft.
Didi Acquires Uber China, Why Uber China Was Doomed, Was Uber China Worth It?
Didi has acquired Uber China. This Update goes through the history of ride-sharing in China, why Uber China was doomed, and evaluates whether Uber China was worth the investment.
The Tesla Autopilot Fatality, Uber Partners with Hertz
The first fatality due to self-driving cars captures why this space is so difficult: the numbers favor Tesla, but the optics may not. Then, why Hertz’ partnership with Uber is so fascinating.