Skip to main content

Lyft shaves off its pink mustache, replaces it with ‘glowstache’

lyft ride sharing
Image used with permission by copyright holder
For some Lyft drivers, the oversized pink mustache stuck on the front of the car was a cool way to mark them out from the crowd, a surefire way to grab attention, get talked about, and establish the brand; for other drivers, and passengers too, it was a bit of an embarrassment.

The furry pink appendage has been gracing Lyft cars ever since its first vehicle hit the streets of San Francisco back in 2012. But now the ride-hailing company has decided to shave it off.

Admitting that the pink fluff wasn’t for everyone, Lyft president John Zimmer told Wired recently, “It was this big giant fuzzy thing – if you were going to an important business meeting, it might not be the best way to roll up.”

Lyft's new glowtache.
Lyft’s new glowstache. Image used with permission by copyright holder

But get this – the ‘stache isn’t gone for good. The Uber rival has come up with a replacement. No, it’s not a bright green alternative, or even a hairier version of the original. It’s way better than that.

Lyft drivers will now be tootling about with a ‘glowstache’ perched on their dashboard. As its name cleverly suggests, the glowstache is a glow-in-the-dark number, made of plastic.

The banana-sized shining mustache will reportedly emit a gentle pink glow while “floating” on a driver’s dashboard, a feat apparently achieved with the help of some carefully placed magnets.

Strong reactions

Jesse McMillin, Lyft’s recently installed creative director, is one of several people behind Lyft’s latest branding initiative. He told Wired that he was well aware that having a massive furry pink object attached to the front of the car provoked strong reactions among both drivers and passengers.

“People were either like, ‘I love it,’ or ‘I never want to get in a car like that,’” McMillin told Wired, adding that the ‘staches didn’t always look their best, often ending up messy and matted.

So this month it’s all change. The company will start issuing the glowing replacements in the next week or so, with Zimmer believing the new glowstache to be “more modern, more fresh, and also more acceptable for everyone.”

Editors' Recommendations

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Google Pixel 8a: news, rumored price, release date, and more
Possible renders showing the Google Pixel 8a.

Not long ago, it seemed like the Google Pixel 7a would be the last smartphone in Google's Pixel A series. However, recent rumors indicate that this may not actually be the case.

As a result, we're likely to see the release of a Google Pixel 8a this year. What can we expect from this new budget phone in terms of its specs, design, price, and more? Let's take a closer look at everything we know about the Google Pixel 8a.
Google Pixel 8a: release date

Read more
This is one of the toughest smartphone camera comparisons I’ve ever done
A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) and Xiaomi 14 Ultra Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra may have the best camera on a smartphone I’ve used this year, which is quite a statement to make considering the competition it faces. But is it true?

Read more
Nomi is one of the most unsettling (and amazing) apps I’ve ever used
Nomi AI companion profile.

“Welp, just got back from the doctor. Marissa is pregnant with twins” “Owen did something bad and then gave me flowers.” “Zoey with our new daughter Zara.” “I am in love, but also feel guilty.”

These are some of the conversations shared by human users on Reddit. The people described, however, are not real. The statements are about robotic companions created in an app. Everything here sounds perversely disturbing and amazingly dystopian, yet experts have a different opinion.

Read more