Uber, the well-known ride-hailing service, faced backlash after prohibiting a customer named Swastika Chandra from using its services in Australia. The incident, which took place in October 2023, ignited discussions about cultural awareness and the perception of names. Swastika Chandra, an Australian with roots in Fiji, was shocked when Uber informed her that her account had been blocked because her first name was a “potentially offensive” word. Chandra, who explained that “Swastika” means “luck” in Sanskrit and is a common name in his home country, expressed his frustration with the…

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A man in Noida, Uttar Pradesh was shocked to receive a bill of Rs.7.66 crore for an Uber auto ride that was originally priced at just Rs.62. The incident gained attention after Ashish Mishra shared it on social media, causing it to go viral. Details from the video The post included a video of regular Uber customer Deepak showing the staggering amount he was charged for the ride. In the video, Deepak revealed that the total amount of the bill was Rs. 7,66,83,762, excluding Goods and Services Tax (GST). The…

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Uber Technologies Inc. is looking to accelerate its growth in the affordable and potentially more lucrative market for two- and three-wheeled rides in India, intensifying its ongoing competition with local provider Ola. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi spoke Thursday of how Uber was trialling services from scooters to motorcycles in his “toughest markets,” providing a model for expansion in other countries. The CEO also introduced the idea of bus services in a panel discussion in Bangalore with Nandan Nilekani, the billionaire founder and chairman of IT services company Infosys Ltd. Khosrowshahi is…

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Uber has recently been testing various new features, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI). In August, the ride-hailing platform introduced an AI chatbot for Uber Eats, which offers users recommendations. Additionally, Uber is said to be planning to introduce a new section for promotions and enable SNAP recipients to use their waivers to purchase groceries. These features are intended to improve the user experience in the face of competition from rivals like DoorDash. Now, Uber is preparing to venture into a different realm by enabling users to hire…

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Uber Technologies Inc. is set to introduce a small-scale trial program for a service similar to TaskRabbit, allowing users of their app to hire individuals for a range of household tasks. This move is part of Uber’s strategy to diversify their offerings beyond transportation and deliveries. During the program’s first test, drivers and couriers on Uber’s app can choose to help customers with small home projects, including assembling furniture, doing household laundry and mowing the lawn, the company said Monday. The feature, called “Uber Tasks,” will roll out in the…

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Uber was fined by Australia’s communications watchdog on Thursday for violating anti-spam laws by sending over two million emails to customers. The emails promoting the alcohol home delivery service were sent on one day in January, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) said. The messages did not offer customers an opportunity to unsubscribe, and more than 500,000 of them were sent to people who had asked not to receive marketing emails. The rideshare and food delivery company was fined A$412,500 ($260,000). Under Australian law, companies cannot send marketing emails…

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Only one bus driver, who had previously worked in a larger city, decided to join the newly introduced publicly subsidized van service in a small city. This decision came after the city unexpectedly halted its bus operations and replaced them with the van service, which offered affordable trips within the town for $1.50. Milton Barnes used to monitor packed subway stations in Washington, D.C., a far cry from the sparsely packed buses he rode after moving to Wilson, North Carolina, to care for his elderly parents. While transit ridership fell…

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Rafaela Vasquez, the Uber safety driver present during the first recorded self-driving car accident resulting in a pedestrian fatality, has admitted guilt and received a sentence for an endangerment charge. Vasquez will be on probation for three years due to her involvement in the 2018 collision in Tempe, Arizona, which tragically claimed the life of Elaine Herzberg as she crossed the road unlawfully at night. This sentence aligns with the prosecution’s requests and is more severe than the defense team’s plea for a six-month probation period. The prosecution argued that…

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According to sources familiar with the matter, Nelson Chai, the Chief Financial Officer of Uber Technologies, is reportedly intending to depart from the ride-hailing company, as reported by Bloomberg News on Monday. Chai informed Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi of his intentions to move forward, although no decision on timing has been made, according to the report. Uber did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

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Uber is aiming to become a zero-emission platform by 2040 and is taking steps to achieve this goal by expanding its current services and introducing new features. One of these features is the revamped carpooling service, UberX Share, which will now be available in 18 additional cities, bringing the total number of markets to 50. This will enable more individuals to share their commute with others who are heading in the same direction. For those who prefer to drive their own vehicle, Uber is also launching Carshare, a new product…

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