Cargo CEO on Uber Partnership: We Want to Reinvent the Experience
*By Max Godnick*
Uber redefined the ride-hailing industry for driversーnow it's adding another level of convenience to the passenger seat.
Last week, the company launched an exclusive global partnership with Cargo, the in-car commerce platform that allows drivers to sell daily essentials to riders. The service was already live in seven U.S. cities and has expanded to Los Angeles and San Francisco as part of the new deal.
The announcement marks the next phase of growth for Cargo, which has close to 8,000 drivers and has seen its fleet expand by 35 percent month over month since its rollout in 2017.
"The fastest way for us to really scale our platform and get Cargo into the hands of as many drivers as possible is to do it through Uber themselves," said Cargo founder & CEO Jeff Cripe in an interview with Cheddar on Monday. "We were united by wanting to provide the best in-car experience possible."
Uber drivers in Los Angeles and San Francisco can now collect Cargo boxes at driver support locations called Greenlight Centers. The boxes are filled with snacks, electronics, and cosmetics that customers can purchase. Cripe noted that many Uber drivers already offer these products but must pay out of pocket to do so.
Now, they can provide the same serviceーbut make money, instead of losing it.
"What \[drivers\] recognized in us was a partner that could streamline that and put that money back in their pockets as opposed to taking it out," Cripe said.
Cripe says drivers have, combined, made more than $1 million and sold over a million products to date. He added that those behind the wheel also tend to see their passenger ratings rise once they start using Cargo.
But will passengers be willing to spend on food and other items if fares surge?
Last week, Uber sent emails to its New York customer base, notifying them that its services may grow "more expensive and less reliable" if the city approves [new regulations](https://cheddar.com/videos/new-york-could-pump-the-brakes-on-ride-hailing-apps) for ride-sharing companies.
While New York is currently Cargo's largest market, Cripe says he's not concerned.
"I don't necessarily think any fare increases or decreases will have much of an effect on us."
As for the future, Cripe says the company is paying close attention to Uber's plans for self-driving taxis. He explained that autonomous fleets would require a system for unattended merchandisingーbut he revealed it's a reality he's preparing for. He also sees more opportunities for entertainment, gaming, and connectivity.
"We want to establish ourselves as the leading provider of in-car service for ride sharing," Cripe said. "So, when autonomy does roll around, we're the best logistics provider in the market."
For full interview, [click here] (https://cms.cheddar.com/videos/VmlkZW8tMjEzMTg=).
Vietnam's first global automaker is coming to the United States. VinFast unveiled the company's full EV lineup of five models at CES 2022. A reservation program for its first two electric vehicles, the VF 326 and the VF e35, officially opened on Wednesday, with the company set to announce the vehicle's retail prices in the U.S. and Vietnamese markets. VinFast is also one of the world's first automakers to apply blockchain technologies to the process of certifying reservations, payments, and eventually vehicle ownership. VinFast CEO Le Thi Thu Thuy joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
AT&T and Verizon have agreed to delay activating their 5G services for two weeks after Airlines for America, a lobbying group that represents American, Delta, and other airlines, filed a petition last week with the FCC to stop the deployment of 5G in the U.S. over concerns that the network can interfere with certain systems on airplanes. President Biden spoke out about it, saying it would avoid further delays and cancellations of flights. Light Reading 5G and Mobile Strategies Director Mike Dano joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Liz Mann, EY Americas Cybersecurity Consulting Leader, joins Cheddar News to discuss the state of cybersecurity in 2022, ways to implement preventative cybersecurity practices, and what the next generation of authentication looks like.
CES, the world’s largest annual tech trade show kicked off in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Cheddar News speaks with Ian Sherr, editor at large for CNET, about this year’s biggest trends.
At a time when banks in countries like Australia and Spain are offering customers cryptocurrency assets for the first time, Josh Goodbody, COO of Qredo, believes we're going to see more financial institutions across the world unveil their crypto solutions this year after developing them behind the scenes last year. He joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
The new year has just gotten underway, but the clock is already ticking for the Democratic-led Congress to pass bills regulating big tech. Evan Greer, Director for Fight For the Future, joins Cheddar News to explain why Democratic lawmakers would want to push legislation now, and what a Republican takeover would mean for the industry.
Americans looking to purchase at-home COVID-19 tests will now have to shell out a bit more money after an agreement expired between the White House and companies to sell the tests at cost. The price of Abbot's BinaxNow test kit from October to December was $14 apiece; on Tuesday, Walmart's website listed the test for $19.88, and Kroger listed the tests for $23.99. Carbon Health Regional Clinical Director Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss the impact higher prices will have as the nation experiences another surge in cases.
