Ground Transportation

PhocusWire's in-depth coverage of the ground transportation sector, featuring news, analysis, interviews, research and more on car rental, ride-hailing, taxis and rail. 

Booking Holdings Grab investment partnership
News / Online
Booking Holdings invests $200M in SE Asian ride-hail company Grab
By Mitra Sorrells | October 29, 2018
Booking Holdings is making a major investment and creating a strategic partnership with Grab Holdings, a Singapore-based on-demand transportation platform that operates in 235 cities in eight countries... Read More
Metasearch part 4 startup challenges
News / Distribution
The metasearch model, part 4: Startup space
By Mitra Sorrells | October 29, 2018
Compared to other aspects of travel, metasearch has not seen as much activity from startups. For our final piece in this series, we explore the question of why, with insights from a venture... Read More
GoEuro 150 million funding2
News / Distribution
GoEuro doubles its funding with new round of $150M
By Mitra Sorrells | October 23, 2018
Berlin-based GoEuro has raised $150 million to grow its multimodal travel booking platform, which currently works with more than 800 providers across Europe.   Read More
In the green room at Phocuswright with... Matt Curtis
Interview / Technology
In the green room at Phocuswright with... Matt Curtis
By PhocusWire | October 23, 2018
As founder of Smart City Policy Group which he set up a year ago, Curtis works with governments and companies to formulate regulations for emerging technology and the sharing economy.  Read More
Metasearch part 3 multimodal
News / Distribution
The metasearch model, part 3: The complexity of multimodal
By Mitra Sorrells | October 22, 2018
This sector, what is known as multimodal metasearch, is the topic of this third piece in our series on metasearch.   Read More
Phocuswright Conference 2018 preview Rajesh Magow
Interview / Online
In the green room at Phocuswright with... Rajesh Magow
By PhocusWire | October 2, 2018
With responsibility for MakeMyTrip’s business strategy and operational leadership in India, Magow has helped the company become a leader in the country’s online travel industry, with more than $4... Read More
Ctrip Splyt ride hailing partnership
News / Startups
Ctrip adds Splyt’s global ride-hailing to its mobile app
By Mitra Sorrells | September 27, 2018
Ctrip customers can now use the online travel agency’s app to book transportation in more than 1,000 cities around the world. Read More
shohoz-ride-sharing-funding
News / Online
Ride-sharing service Shohoz looks to further on-demand services after $15M investment
By Linda Fox | September 26, 2018
With funding of $15 million, Bangladesh-based Shohoz is looking to extend beyond ground transportation services. Read More
VIDEO: Behold a next-gen in-destination, tech-enhanced experience
News / Technology
VIDEO: Behold a next-gen in-destination, tech-enhanced experience
By Kevin May | September 26, 2018
Sightseeing buses in major cities around the world have changed very little over the years - it's a simple product with well-defined parameters. Read More
In The Big Chair - Deep Kalra of MakeMyTrip
Interview / Distribution
In The Big Chair - Deep Kalra of MakeMyTrip
By Mitra Sorrells | September 25, 2018
Deep Kalra founded MakeMyTrip in 2000 in the United States to help the country’s Indian community manage its travel to and from India. It started operations within India in 2005 and now offers flights,... Read More
Ground transportation on the cusp of another revolution
Opinion / Technology
Ground transportation on the cusp of another revolution
By PhocusWire | September 21, 2018
Ground transportation of the road variety in the travel industry was once dominated by car rental and highly regulated taxi services. Read More
Startup Stage FlyGRN
Interview / Startups
Startup Stage: FlyGRN combines flight booking with automatic carbon offsetting
By Mitra Sorrells | September 21, 2018
FlyGRN uses a portion of the commission it receives for flight bookings to support carbon offsetting projects, such as a solar panel initiative in India that displaces fossil fuels. Travelers receive a... Read More
Booking.com ODX blockchain internet marketplace
News / Technology
Booking.com will give data to consumers in emerging markets to access its site
By Mitra Sorrells | September 20, 2018
Booking.com has signed on to try a new blockchain-based data marketplace aimed at helping brands connect with users in emerging markets.   Read More
Trainline voice app Twitter alerts
News / Technology
Trainline's voice app uses Twitter data to communicate rail disruptions
By Mitra Sorrells | September 13, 2018
Train operators are the first to know about service disruptions, and now independent ticket retailer Trainline is tapping into that knowledge to keep commuters better informed.   Read More
Offline part 2 agency technology
News / Technology
Back in the offline world, part 2: Travel agency technology
By Mitra Sorrells | September 10, 2018
For part two in this month’s series on the offline travel market, we look at the technology that is supporting the work of traditional agents and how it has evolved over the years.   Read More