Food trucks in the U.S. have taken many forms, but have long been a popular option for dining. Now as the coronavirus pandemic alters the way we interact and engage with others, these kitchens on wheels may have a new function, especially on college campuses.
Rod Keller, CEO of the electric vehicle manufacturer AYRO is jumping at the opportunity to capitalize on the niche industry in a partnership with Gallery Carts. The new collaboration will combine AYRO's expertise in developing electric vehicles with Gallery's expertise in creating food delivery vehicles.
"Colleges are faced with, 'Well how do we provide food and beverage while at the same time, avoiding the mass crowds that you would typically see inside of a cafeteria?'" Keller told Cheddar.
So far, more than $500,000 has been poured into the collaboration as orders for the vehicles continue to amass. Keller said he's confident that as universities and other large campuses seek safer ways to feed their communities amid the pandemic, the need for their services will grow.
AYRO is also banking on buyers in higher education considering the long-term savings electric vehicles can provide. Keller said its electric vehicles save fleet operators at least 50 percent on fuel and energy costs.
"When people are moving cargo from one side of a university to another, or business campus, or hotel and resort, you don't need a full-sized truck with 400 miles of range running on gasoline to do that," Keller said.
In the wake of Robinhood announcing it will be letting go of 9 percent of its staff, Caleb Silver, Investopedia editor-in-chief, joined Cheddar News to talk about the growing pains that the trading platform is going through, how it is affecting its user experience, and where it goes from here. “I think you're gonna see a little bit more automation, but that's how Robinhood was built," he said. "I think what you'll see is less marketing." Silver also noted that the steep drop in the stock price leaves it potentially open to being acquired. "I'm not saying that I know anything about this, but they're looking awful cheap. And when you think about what's going on with Twitter and some of these other platforms, you can see a buyer coming for Robinhood any minute now."
Stocks closed slightly higher Wednesday as the Nasdaq closed flat after a failed attempt to close higher. Investors are keeping an eye on earnings, which so far have been shaky for big tech giants and companies that typically drive the market. Garrett Phillips, Managing Partner at 3Summit Investment Management, joins Closing Bell to discuss today's close, our current volatile environment, where to invest in the current environment, and more.
Ron Carson, CEO and Founder of Carson Wealth, sits down with Cheddar's Hena Doba to share how he achieved 'work-life harmony' by investing time and money into businesses he's passionate about.
Jan Lee, co-founder of Neighbors United Below Canal, joins Cheddar News to discuss how the new mega jail in NYC's Chinatown will negatively impact the community.
Melissa Eamer, founder and CEO of aging wellness brand Modern Age, joins Cheddar News to discuss the recent launch of its digital experience and flagship in New York City.
Danny Trejo is teaming up with Tostitos the once again for Cinco de Mayo. The actor and restaurateur is starring in the tortilla chip brand's commercial with Sofia Reyes to inspire others on how to celebrate the holiday. The "Machete" star joined Cheddar News to talk about the campaign. "I only do things I like, and I like Tostitos," he said. "You know, I love their Scoops. They don't break in the guacamole."
With National Infertility Awareness Week underway, the fertility and family-building benefits provider for employers, Kindbody, is looking to make a full suite of treatments and care accessible — including for LGBTQ+ patients. Founder and chairwoman Gina Bartasi joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to talk about the importance of infertility awareness, what role employers play in offering benefits, and how to remove the stigma around the fertility conversation. "We have to talk about the patient holistically, not just fertility services, but what can we do from a mental health standpoint to support patients," she said. "Most patients talk about fertility being more stressful than divorce, infertility being more prevalent than cancer or diabetes. So it is our mission, remains our mission, to elevate awareness around infertility, not just [during] National Infertility Awareness Week."
With a constrained supply of housing in the most desirable markets, home prices have risen nearly 20 percent year-over-year in February. David O’Reilly, CEO of Howard Hughes Corporation, joined Cheddar News to talk about where people are migrating to, and away from, leading to red hot real estate. "We see clearly the most demand is going into those states that I would define as warmer and less expensive, those secondary cities like Houston, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, where individuals are trading in higher traffic and lower quality of life for more affordability," he said. O'Reilly pointed to urban centers in the Northeast and West Coast as seeing the most losses in residents.
Social media giants including Twitter, Meta, Alphabet, and Pinterest all report earnings this week, and there's plenty to keep an eye on. One big earnings report to watch will be Twitter's, after the company today accepted Tesla CEO Elon Musk's $44 billion bid to take the company private. Investors will also be keeping an eye on ad revenue, user numbers, and more when it comes to Meta's social media networks like Facebook and Instagram. Ted Mortonson, technology strategist at Baird, joins Closing Bell to discuss Musk's Twitter takeover, how Apple's iOS privacy change could continue to impact ad revenue, and more.
Brian Moody, Executive Editor at Autotrader, joined Closing Bell's Ken Buffa to look ahead at what to expect from legacy automakers GM and Ford, as the auto industry attempts to navigate a combination of issues, including supply chain constraints and rising interest rates.
