Uber Eyes E-Scooter Start-Ups Bird and Lime to Expand its Urban Mobility Options
*By Carlo Versano*
Uber is sniffing around a possible acquisition of either Lime or Bird, the leaders in the growing e-scooter rental market, according to a [report](https://www.theinformation.com/articles/uber-exploring-deal-to-buy-bird-or-lime) in The Information. One of the reporters who broke that story told Cheddar on Monday that there is a "growing realization" among ridehailing companies that bike and scooters will continue to be a significant part of the urban mobility landscape.
Uber's ultimate target is "going to come down to price," said The Information's Cory Weinberg.
Both Uber and rival Lyft bought their own bikeshare operators this year ー Uber acquired Jump and Lyft now owns the Citibike-parent Motivate, making it the largest bikeshare in the country.
As for scooters, Uber already has a minority stake in Lime and started renting scooters through its app this summer.
Lyft has also started rolling out scooter rentals in cities including Denver and Washington, D.C, and is expected to expand Lyft-branded scooters under the Motivate umbrella.
Uber is also familiar with the operations and executive teams of both Bird and Lime, according to Weinberg. "They certainly know both of these companies really well." In fact, Bird is even run by a former Uber and Lyft executive, Travis VanderZanden.
Uber's desire to acquire a scooter start-up may also point to a reality of business for the ridehailing company: its U.S. growth has begun to slow, and the scooter space is growing rapidly.
One thing all these transportation companies have in common: they are burning through cash as they build out infrastructure and operations. If Bird or Lime is open to an acquisition, it would raise questions about whether they have hit speed bumps in their financing efforts, Weinberg said. For now, Bird's CEO has said the company is not for sale.
For the consumer, the endgame seems increasingly likely to be a "bundled services" model, Weinberg said, where Uber and Lyft have "multi-modal" apps, in which users can book a car, a bike, or a scooter, all from the same interface ー and maybe even get rewarded for using certain options. Customers getting a credit on a Lyft ride for regularly using a Citibike doesn't seem hard to imagine as the mobility wars evolve.
"Whatever Uber has, Lyft will try to match," said Weinberg. "Which will all be good for consumers."
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/uber-looks-to-acquire-bird-or-lime).
Johan Grahn, Head of ETF Strategy at Allianz Investment Management, breaks down the major risks to the markets including how the FED may react to upcoming CPI data.
Markets opened mostly higher led by gains in the tech sector on strong Q4 earnings. It comes after a tumultuous January which saw stocks suffer one of their worst months since the early days of the pandemic. Jim Worden, Chief Investment Officer, Wealth Consulting Group joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss early market activity.
Adam Coons, Portfolio Manager at Winthrop Capital Management, talks about the last jobs data, and breaks down the future of social media and tech platforms.
Women's health company Organon will give its over 9,000 employees a paid day off on International Women's Day.
The move comes as the company aims to recognize the growing health inequities women have faced during the Covid-19 pandemic. Kevin Ali, Chief Executive Officer, Organon joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
CLMBR is hoping to become the next big thing in connected fitness. The brand offers a high intensity, low impact workout with on-demand, instructor-led classes. Avrum Elmakis, CLMBR's CEO and founder, joined Cheddar to discuss where the company is heading next.
Peloton is reportedly drawing interest from multiple suitors. According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon is considering acquiring the exercise bike company as it looks to expand into the health and wellness technology industry. Hatem Dhiab, managing partner at Gerber Kawasaki, joined Cheddar to discuss Peloton's future and which company might be its best bet as a buyer.
Amazon shares jumped north of 13 percent in after-hours trading as the E-commerce giant posted a beat on earnings in its fourth quarter. Amazon saw particular success in its cloud computing business, as well as its stake in EV startup, Rivian after its massive IPO. Deren Baker, CEO, Edge by Ascential joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
After a seven-year hiatus, Nissan is returning to the Super Bowl action-packed, star-studded commercial. Allyson Witherspoon, Nissan's Chief Marketing Officer, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss the concept of the ad campaign and how it gives clues into where the brand is heading next.
Google parent company Alphabet reporting a beat on its Q4 earnings report, with revenue up 32%. The company's strong quarter was thanks to success in its cloud and advertising businesses, which both saw solid year-over-year growth. Angelo Zino, Senior Industry Analyst, CFRA Research joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss the tech giant's blowout results.
Yumeka Rushing, Chief Strategy Officer at the NAACP, talks about the private sector's commitment toward racial equity and how the NAACP is attracting younger Americans to the organization's latest initiatives.
