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. 

VIDEO: Business travel, supplier technology and customer ownership
News / Technology
VIDEO: Business travel, supplier technology and customer ownership
By Kevin May | April 10, 2018
There is an ongoing discussion around the idea that suppliers are gaining more control of the customer as they often have the ability to handle the tech interface. Read More
Uber acquires Jump Bikes
News / Startups
Uber targets bike-sharing with purchase of Jump Bikes
By Mitra Sorrells | April 9, 2018
Uber is expanding its ride options with the purchase of Jump Bikes, a dockless, electric bike-sharing startup.   Read More
Bike share startup Yellow $9M seed round
News / Startups
Brazilian bike-sharing startup raises $9M in seed round
By Mitra Sorrells | April 5, 2018
Brazilian start-up Yellow has raised $9 million in seed round funding to launch the first dockless bike-sharing service in that country.   Read More
MakeMyTrip Flipkart partnership
News / Distribution
MakeMyTrip boosts distribution with Flipkart partnership
By Mitra Sorrells | April 5, 2018
Less than a month after buzz circulated that Amazon could make a move into travel – again – one of its biggest e-commerce competitors is doing just that. Read More
In The Big Chair - Jens Wohltorf of Blacklane
Interview / Online
In The Big Chair - Jens Wohltorf of Blacklane
By Kevin May | April 5, 2018
Since Jens Wohltorf co-founded the private car company in 2011, Blacklane has grown its reach to 250 cities and has raised $85 million. Read More
Meituan acquisition Mobike
News / Technology
China's Meituan acquires bike-sharing platform Mobike
By Mitra Sorrells | April 4, 2018
Chinese e-commerce platform Meituan has acquired Mobike, one of the world's largest smart bike-sharing companies.   Read More
Rome2rio PCW Europe
Interview / Online
Phocuswright Europe 2018 Preview: Q&A with Rome2rio's Rod Cuthbert
By PhocusWire | April 3, 2018
Ahead of the event, Rod Cuthbert discusses the evolution of multi-modal booking, how Google is changing travel and why he's publicly called out TripAdvisor. Read More
Phocuswright Europe 2018 Preview: Q&A with CarTrawler's Bobby Healy
Interview / Distribution
Phocuswright Europe 2018 Preview: Q&A with CarTrawler's Bobby Healy
By PhocusWire | March 30, 2018
Ahead of the event, Bobby Healy discusses the major opportunities in mobile, what's wrong with Google and why it's crucial to stay ahead of the competition. Read More
Venture capital investments in travel tech could hit record highs in 2018
News / Startups
Venture capital investments in travel tech could hit record highs in 2018
By Mitra Sorrells | March 28, 2018
Startups creating solutions to make travel more efficient, frictionless and interconnected received a record amount of venture capital funding in 2017 – at $25.45 billion it was a substantial 32%... Read More
Hotelbeds offloads destinations services to TUI for €110M
News / Distribution
Hotelbeds offloads destinations services to TUI for €110M
By Kevin May | March 28, 2018
Hotelbeds has ended its interest in providing incoming services to travel agencies by selling its Destination Management division to TUI for €110 million. Read More
ibm watson assistant
News / Technology
IBM enters voice assistant market with Watson Assistant for businesses
By Jill Menze | March 27, 2018
IBM is throwing its hat into the voice assistant ring, but with what could be a key differentiator over Amazon and Google. Read More
Uber offloads Southeast Asia wing to Grab, will now focus on organic growth
News / Online
Uber offloads Southeast Asia wing to Grab, will now focus on organic growth
By Kevin May | March 26, 2018
Uber claims consolidation is not the "strategy of the day" after seeing another part of the business heading to a competitor. Read More
Tourlane $8.5M funding
News / Startups
Tourlane raises $8.5M to expand custom trip-planning platform
By Mitra Sorrells | March 23, 2018
Berlin-based Tourlane has secured $8.5 million to expand its service that combines the customized offerings of a traditional travel agent with the ease of online booking. Read More
Amazon’s multifaceted – and likely inevitable – path into travel
News / Online
Amazon’s multifaceted – and likely inevitable – path into travel
By Mitra Sorrells | March 21, 2018
It’s becoming clear that it’s no longer a question of “if” but rather of “when” and "how” Amazon will try to disrupt the travel industry.... again. Read More
Voice series part 2 user experience
News / Technology
Voice tech in travel, part 2: UX and design
By Mitra Sorrells | March 12, 2018
The days of typing search terms into a browser or clicking through drop-down menus may be fading. Rising in their place is a much more natural interface: voice. Here are the characteristics of an... Read More