Ford’s decision to bin Chariot ride-share service came after ‘significant consideration’

Ford has given no explanation for the decision to abandon its ride-sharing shuttle service Chariot, but said it came after “significant consideration”. The service will stop operating on UK shuttle commuter routes tomorrow – after just a few months - and on US routes after 1 February. All Chariot services will cease completely by the end of March. A statement from the company gave little clue as to why: “In today’s mobility landscape, the wants and needs of customers and cities are changing rapidly. We a
January 24, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

278 Ford has given no explanation for the decision to abandon its ride-sharing %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external shuttle false http://www.itsinternational.com/categories/utc/news/chariot-shuttle-service-to-help-london-companies-cut-commutes/ false false%> service Chariot, but said it came after “significant consideration”.

The service will stop operating on UK shuttle commuter routes tomorrow – after just a few months - and on US routes after 1 February.

All Chariot services will cease completely by the end of March.

A statement from the company gave little clue as to why: “In today’s mobility landscape, the wants and needs of customers and cities are changing rapidly. We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause Chariot’s riders and our enterprise customers.”

Parent group Ford has been under pressure worldwide this year, posting significant losses outside of its heartland in North America.

The motor manufacturer recently announced thousands of job losses in Europe and said that it is worried about the effects of a so-called ‘hard Brexit’ if and when the UK leaves the 1816 European Union.

Chariot says it is committed to ensuring its customers are aware of the decision and have time to make alternative transportation arrangements, and promises to refund all remaining commuter credit balances.

UTC

Related Content

  • September 4, 2018
    Petrol/diesel cars could be fined for using London’s ‘electric streets’
    Drivers in London, UK, could be fined £130 for not using electric or hybrid vehicles on nine ‘electric streets’. The project is intended to cut pollution and improve air quality. Drivers of petrol and diesel cars will be restricted from using some roads in the Shoreditch and Old Street areas of the city between 7am-10am and 4pm-7pm on weekdays.
    Read More
  • July 23, 2019
    Lyft to offer AV service for blind riders
    Lyft has joined forces with Aptiv and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) to bring self-driving technology to its blind and low-vision riders in Las Vegas. The deal extends an agreement last year, in which Aptiv launched 30 autonomous vehicles (AVs) to pick up riders using Lyft’s app. NFB president Mark Riccobono says: “This demonstration will allow future blind drivers to experience and begin providing feedback about this technology, paving the way for the development of a non-visual user in
    Read More
  • January 21, 2019
    Transdev enters partnership to develop shared mobility solution
    Transdev is to launch an electric and automated shuttle service by 2020 in France and Germany. The company is to integrate its autonomous shuttle transport and supervision system with a shuttle provided by the e.Go Moove joint venture – a partnership comprising e.Go, a manufacturer of electric vehicles, and chassis technology firm ZF. ZF will provide the shuttle’s electric drive systems, steering systems and brakes as well as its ProAI central computer – a system which acts as a central control unit with
    Read More
  • September 18, 2019
    Uber: AB5 ‘does not automatically reclassify’ drivers
    Business life may be about to get trickier for transportation network companies following the passing of a new law in California which aims to give gig economy workers more rights. Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), which is due to come into effect in January next year, says that “a person providing labour or services for remuneration shall be considered an employee rather than an independent contractor” - unless three points are proved. One, that “the hiring entity demonstrates that the person is free from the con
    Read More

Highlighted Content