General Motors swoops in to harvest Sidecar’s carcass

By Julian Chokkattu January 19, 2016

general motors sidecar 2017 gmc acadia all terrain 001 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s not just the taxicab industry that ride-sharing services like Uber are disrupting — they are also forcing traditional automakers to enter the foray in order to stay relevant and competitive. And General Motors is the latest example.

Following its recent $500 million investment in Lyft, GM has acquired the assets and remains of the first peer-to-peer car-sharing service, Sidecar, according to Bloomberg. Sidecar shut down just last month, and GM is also bringing 20 of Sidecar’s employees, including one of the co-founders, Jahan Khanna, to help with its own efforts as well as with its partnership with Lyft. The deal is estimated to cost under $39 million.

Bloomberg reports that GM is looking to introduce its own suite of transportation services, called “Maven,” which would potentially allow owners of GM vehicles to give rides to other people commuting in the same direction. The trademark filing for the name Maven described the service as “application software for connecting vehicle drivers and passengers and for coordinating transportation services; software for use in planning, monitoring, and controlling urban transportation.”

GM is one of many automakers trying to take on Uber, a company worth around $40 billion that is also toying with autonomous vehicles for its ride-sharing service. At this year’s Detroit Auto Show, Ford announced that it is expanding its fleet of autonomous cars, and at CES 2016, Ford’s CEO Mark Fields contended mobility services are worth an estimated $5.4 trillion, while the car industry itself is worth $2.3 trillion. Ford is also working on its own ride-sharing service, and Daimler AG acquired German ridesharing apps RideScout and mytaxi.

Last fall, General Motors launched a pilot program called Lets Drive NYC, a service available only to residents of the Ritz Plaza, that allows them to use an app to reserve a vehicle they can access at any of 200 garages in Manhattan.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Julian Chokkattu

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.