The partnership will launch this fall in Chandler, Ariz., which already partners with Via to offer shared, on-demand rides around a designated zone for a set price of $2 a ride. The service will now include Waymo vehicles among Via’s existing fleet of vans.
Via’s software is geared toward municipalities and transit agencies, as well as universities and companies with large campuses, looking to operate their transportation systems more efficiently with technology that designs transit routes and schedules.
It currently has close to 700 customers, about a fifth of which also enlist its help to actually operate those networks, with the company providing vans, drivers, marketing support or call centers. Some of those clients—especially those with sparse downtowns like Chandler, where traditional bus routes can be inefficient—use Via to offer shared, on-demand rides as part of their public transit.
Via expects that incorporating Waymo into those services will eventually bring down costs, helping its government clients to use taxpayer dollars more effectively, Chief Executive Daniel Ramot said. Public transit systems, and local governments in general, are often late to benefit from advanced technology, he added.
Wow, $2 a ride is basically free... I can't imagine that's remotely sustainable even with huge kickbacks from the government. Wonder how long they're going to keep this going before they have to...
Wow, $2 a ride is basically free... I can't imagine that's remotely sustainable even with huge kickbacks from the government. Wonder how long they're going to keep this going before they have to jack up the prices
In a limited zone with battery powered, autonomous cars I think they could keep it cheap if they wanted, why not? Especially if subsidized by the rest of their business. Now will they? Eh, maybe?...
In a limited zone with battery powered, autonomous cars I think they could keep it cheap if they wanted, why not? Especially if subsidized by the rest of their business.
Now will they? Eh, maybe? If it gets them good brand recognition and good will, gets them more road hours, and doesn’t cost them too much it seems worth it to them. But Tech does love to get customers addicted to cheap prices then rug pull them, so who knows.
https://archive.is/7OqTH
From the article:
Wow, $2 a ride is basically free... I can't imagine that's remotely sustainable even with huge kickbacks from the government. Wonder how long they're going to keep this going before they have to jack up the prices
In a limited zone with battery powered, autonomous cars I think they could keep it cheap if they wanted, why not? Especially if subsidized by the rest of their business.
Now will they? Eh, maybe? If it gets them good brand recognition and good will, gets them more road hours, and doesn’t cost them too much it seems worth it to them. But Tech does love to get customers addicted to cheap prices then rug pull them, so who knows.
$2 is close to the commodity price, without competition you'd expect luxury pricing, especially given the, erm, robust R&D involved.