Uber is expanding its efforts to give you a smoother ride

By Trevor Mogg Published September 7, 2016

If you’ve ever been in an Uber where the driver seemed to have scant regard for the well-being of your neck – we’re talking things like harsh breaking, absurdly quick acceleration, and taking bends too fast – then you’ll probably appreciate the company’s efforts to make your ride a little more comfortable.

These include monitoring each driver’s performance while behind the wheel, a system it started trialing in several U.S. cities at the end of June and which is now being expanded to Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines, Tech in Asia reports.

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The data is gathered from the driver’s smartphone and sent to Uber HQ. It’s then analyzed and transformed into a personal daily report for the driver so they can see where, in Uber’s eyes, improvements in driving performance need to be made.

The monitoring system, which is made possible by a smartphone’s built-in gyroscope, is “a unique opportunity to improve road safety,” Uber’s Dorothy Chou told Tech In Asia, adding that the intention is to use the large amount of smartphone data to “predict, prevent, and reduce” potentially dangerous, or just plain annoying, driving habits.

Chou said that while driving styles may vary from country to country, the data is likely to highlight individuals exhibiting unnecessarily erratic driving behavior, allowing Uber to offer advice – rather than punish – on areas that require attention so riders can enjoy a more comfortable journey.

The system also sends out immediate alerts if a driver breaks the speed limit, and can detect if a driver is sending text messages or interacting in other ways with their phone when they should have their eyes on the road ahead.

While drivers may not like the “Big Brother” nature of the monitoring system, the San Francisco-based company clearly believes it’s having a positive effect, claiming that incidents of severe breaking and high-speed acceleration have fallen 10 percent in recent months, results that will surely be welcomed by Uber riders with recurring neck issues.

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Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

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EVs top gas cars in German reliability report — but one weak spot won’t quit

future electric cars 2021 volkswagen id4 official 32

Electric vehicles are quietly crushing old stereotypes about being delicate or unreliable, and the data now backs it up in a big way. According to Germany’s ADAC — Europe’s largest roadside assistance provider — EVs are actually more reliable than their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts. And this isn’t just a small study — it’s based on a staggering 3.6 million breakdowns in 2024 alone.
For cars registered between 2020 and 2022, EVs averaged just 4.2 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles, while ICE cars saw more than double that, at 10.4 per 1,000. Even with more EVs hitting the road, they only accounted for 1.2% of total breakdowns — a big win for the battery-powered crowd.
Among standout performers, some cars delivered exceptionally low breakdown rates. The Audi A4 clocked in at just 0.4 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles for 2022 models, with Tesla’s Model 3 right behind at 0.5. The Volkswagen ID.4, another popular EV, also impressed with a rate of 1.0 – as did the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross at 1.3. On the flip side, there were some major outliers: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 showed a surprisingly high 22.4 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles for its 2022 models, while the hybrid Toyota RAV4 posted 18.4.
Interestingly, the most common issue for both EVs and ICE vehicles was exactly the same: the humble 12-volt battery. Despite all the futuristic tech in EVs, it’s this old-school component that causes 50% of all EV breakdowns, and 45% for gas-powered cars. Meanwhile, EVs shine in categories like engine management and electrical systems — areas where traditional engines are more complex and failure-prone.
But EVs aren’t completely flawless. They had a slightly higher rate of tire-related issues — 1.3 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles compared to 0.9 for ICE cars. That could be due to their heavier weight and high torque, which can accelerate tire wear. Still, this trend is fading in newer EVs as tire tech and vehicle calibration improve.
Now, zooming out beyond Germany: a 2024 Consumer Reports study in the U.S. painted a different picture. It found that EVs, especially newer models, had more reliability issues than gas cars, citing tech glitches and inconsistent build quality. But it’s worth noting that the American data focused more on owner-reported problems, not just roadside breakdowns.
So, while the long-term story is still developing, especially for older EVs, Germany’s data suggests that when it comes to simply keeping you on the road, EVs are pulling ahead — quietly, efficiently, and with far fewer breakdowns than you might expect.

Cars

Lucid Gravity shifts electric SUVs into a new orbit

2025 Lucid Gravity front quarter view.

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Available in two-row, five-seat and three-row, seven-seat configurations, the Gravity aims to attract the much larger cohort of new car buyers who want extra space, or need a vehicle to accommodate their families and Instagram-worthy lifestyles. But those buyers already have plenty of choices, including the Cadillac Escalade IQ, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, Rivian R1S, and Volvo EX90, as well as the two-row BMW iX.

Cars

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Amazon has changed how we shop for just about everything—from books to furniture to groceries. Now, it’s transforming the way we lease cars. Through Amazon Autos, you can now lease a brand-new Hyundai entirely online—and even better, you’ll qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit if you choose an electric model like the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, or Kona EV.
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It’s available in 68 markets across the U.S., and pricing is fully transparent—no hidden fees or haggling. While Hyundai is so far the only automaker fully participating, more are expected to join over time.
Pioneered by the likes of Tesla, purchasing or leasing vehicles online has been a growing trend since the Covid pandemic.
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Meanwhile, Deloitte’s 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Study reveals that while 86% of U.S. consumers still want to test-drive a vehicle in person, digital tools are now a critical part of the buying journey.
Bottom line? Amazon is making it easier than ever to lease an EV and claim that tax credit—without the dealership hassle. If you're ready to plug in, it might be time to add to cart.