Cars have the ability to connect with apps such as Spotify or Apple Music, but what’s next for in-auto entertainment?
Volvo says it’s all about the apps.
“The best apps...making those super easy to use,” Atif Rafiq, the company’s Chief Digital Officer, told Cheddar. “That’s what we’re focused on.”
But it doesn’t stop there.
Volvo plans to make all of its fleets “at least” hybrid by 2019, an effort to build on its electric and self-driving car initiatives. The company recently announced that it will provide Uber with 24,000 XC90s, for its self-driving fleets.
Rafiq says that the Uber partnership is reflective of where the car industry is moving: autonomous driving as a service.
“We’re focused on both the consumer and these B2B markets when it comes to autonomous driving,” he said.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/how-volvo-is-driving-innovation-in-2018).
Jesse Coors-Blankenship and Gregg Hill, general partners at Parkway VC, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where they say they decided to invest in Sandbox AQ because the Alphabet spinoff is 'one of the most important companies of the century' with a team carrying strong knowledge of A.I. and quantum tech.
Electric scooter company Spin is teaming up exclusively with ride-hailing business Lyft to provide scooter rentals in cities across the country, beginning with Nashville. Spin CEO Ben Bear joined Cheddar News to talk about the rollout and detail how Lyft users will be able to access Spin scooters. "It's a completely native integration, and we think reducing that friction it's just gonna be key to getting more people out of personal cars and onto bikes and scooters across the country."
Users can now call for a traditional cab on the Uber app in New York City. The company that started out looking to disrupt yellow cabs and car services is now hoping to be a host for all taxi services globally in the future.
Nouveau Monde Graphite says it wants to power the sustainable energy revolution. The Canadian company is developing carbon-neutral battery materials to serve the growing EV and cleantech markets and is doing so via a mining and manufacturing operation in Quebec. Eric Desaulniers, founder, president & CEO of Nouveau Monde Graphite, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Stocks closed near session lows Wednesday as investors showed concerns about rising oil prices, supply shortages, and renewed risk of inflation. While investors began the week on a confident note, today's jump in oil prices has them once again worried that inflation will not go away any time soon. John Traynor, Chief Investment Officer at People's United Advisors, joins Closing Bell to discuss today's market close, the Federal Reserve's comments and actions taken to combat inflation, and more.
John Logan, Director of Labor and Employment Studies at San Francisco State University, joined Cheddar News to discuss the growing unionization push by employees at Starbucks and Amazon, and the wider implications of employee organization at these big companies.
