Toyota Accelerates Ride-Hailing Investments With New Uber Deal

Toyota Motor Corp. is investing $500 million in Uber Technologies Inc. as the OEM continues its efforts to become a true competitor in the autonomous vehicle space, the companies announced on Monday. Uber will combine its autonomous driving system with Toyota’s Guardian technology, which uses sensors to help human drivers avoid accidents, according to a […]

• Nicole Casperson
• August 28, 2018
• Archives, Innovation & Mobility, Technology

Getaround Poised to Meet Carshare Demand With $300M Investment

Carsharing app Getaround raised $300 million in series D funding today — led by investments from SoftBank and Toyota Motor Corp. — at a time when the sector could get a boost from New York City regulations.  Getaround is the latest to join SoftBank’s contingent of mobility startups it backs, which include Uber, China’s ride-hailing […]

• William Hoffman
• August 21, 2018
• Archives, Innovation & Mobility

Uber Partners With Carshare Startup Getaround

Uber has partnered with startup Getaround to offer carsharing on its platform, in addition to offering bikesharing and tickets for public transport in an effort to become a multi-modal platform. Uber and Getaround announced last week that Uber customers in San Francisco will be able to instantly find and rent cars shared on Getaround using the Uber app. The […]

• Emma Sandler
• April 20, 2018
• Innovation & Mobility, Technology

Peer-to-Peer Carshare Launches With Focus on Luxury

Ryde Inc., a new peer-to-peer carsharing startup, launched its service last week with an emphasis on luxury vehicles, to distinguish itself among a growing mobility marketplace, Founder and Chief Executive Thanura Yapa told Auto Finance News. Luxury car owners can register their vehicles into Ryde’s fleet for others to pick up and rent. In the next […]

• Emma Sandler
• January 17, 2018
• All Posts, Innovation & Mobility, Operations

Partnerships ‘More Productive’ Than Equity Investments, Getaround CFO Says

LAS VEGAS — While equity investments are beneficial for startups, “arms-length” transactions or strategic partnerships that rely on factors other than equity return are often “more productive,” Getaround’s Chief Financial Officer Adam Kosmicki said at the 2017 Auto Finance Summit. “The expected value of [that equity investment] can often be a lot lower than investing […]

• Natalie Mattila
• November 29, 2017
• All Posts, Innovation & Mobility, Strategy

Reinventing the Aftermarket: Will All-Inclusive Subscription Services Be the Next Big Thing?

While “all-inclusive” is a pretty well-known concept in the resort world — many vacation spots boast carefree, wallet-less getaways, where everything is included in one price — the term is almost foreign in auto finance. But that is poised to change, as several lenders adapt the “all-inclusive” concept into their business models, with an aim […]

• Natalie Mattila
• September 1, 2017
• Features, Innovation & Mobility, Operations, Strategy, Technology

Getaround to Expand TFS Pilot Program, Seeks New Partners

Peer-to-peer carshare platform Getaround looks to extend its pilot program with Toyota Financial Services to additional cities by 2018, Chief Financial Officer Adam Kosmicki told Auto Finance News at Auto Finance Innovation 2017. Toyota and Getaround partnered in January to pilot a new mobility services platform in San Francisco that aims to help consumers rent out […]

• Natalie Mattila
• June 21, 2017
• All Posts, Innovation & Mobility, Technology

Getaround Offers Income, Credit Boost

SAN DIEGO — Potential car buyers are looking to Getaround — a peer-to-peer carshare platform — as an “equity-like income stream” that could boost their chances of landing a loan or lease, the startup’s Chief Financial Officer Adam Kosmicki said during a panel at last month’s Auto Finance Innovation 2017. “From an owner’s perspective, when you list your […]

• Natalie Mattila
• June 8, 2017
• Innovation & Mobility, Technology