Uber

A state appeals court intervened Thursday in an ongoing legal battle involving Lyft and Uber, granting an emergency order to prevent a planned shutdown of ride services in California. Lyft announced in a blog post earlier Thursday that the company will suspend its operations Thursday night across California. Operations were expected to halt beginning at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, the company…

Uber would likely shut down temporarily for several months if a court does not overturn a recent ruling requiring it to classify its drivers as full-time employees, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in an interview with Stephanie Ruhle Wednesday on MSNBC. “If the court doesn’t reconsider, then in California, it’s hard to believe we’ll be able to switch our model to full-time...

A former Google engineer who helped steer the company’s self-driving car project has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

A ride share driver was shot in Little Village early Sunday morning, according to Chicago police. The 50-year-old male victim was driving westbound on 30th street near the 3900 block at around 2:49 a.m. when he saw multiple males yelling, according to police. He then heard multiple gunshots and immediately felt pain. He sustained one gunshot wound to the left…

The rideshare industry is making drastic changes to the way you ride.

Uber is cutting 3,000 more jobs less than two weeks after an initial round of layoffs, CNBC confirmed. In an email to employees Monday, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said Uber would also be shutting or consolidating 45 offices around the world and it is considering cuts to other businesses, like freight. Uber shares were up about 9% on the news, which was…

Uber will require drivers and passengers to participate in new guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 beginning Monday. The ride share company’s biggest change is the requirement of all users to wear a mask or face cover, Uber announced Sunday. Before drivers can accept trips, they must take a photo of themselves with a mask on. Uber’s new...

Uber is launching a new set of features in its app that will check if drivers are wearing face masks before starting trips.

Uber lost $2.9 billion in the first quarter as its overseas investments were hammered by the coronavirus pandemic, but the company is looking to its growing food delivery business and aggressive cost-cutting to ease the pain.

Ride-hailing pioneer Uber plans to lay off 3,700 employees, according to a report from CNBC citing a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Wednesday.

Fashion lines, car manufacturers and airlines, among other industries, are summoning their resources to help with the medical response to the coronavirus pandemic. They’re manufacturing masks and ventilators — with some even delivering food to first responders.

Chicago police are warning rideshare users to take extra precautions after a kidnapping and robbery incident in the city’s Fulton River District neighborhood. According to police, the victim left a bar near Grand and Halsted at around 2 a.m. on Jan. 16 when a 2003 Gold 4dr Acura MDX approached. The victim held a conversation with the driver and entered…

City of Chicago officials say they need more time to study how and when people ride e-scooters before the city makes a final decision on whether to keep the scooters permanently. Several companies participated in the first trial in 2019, including brands from Uber and Lyft. NBC 5’s Kye Martin reports.

Need a ride? Or an extra pair of feet? Twitter user @JReneex posted a screenshot of several Uber transportation options for a trip to LaGuardia Airport last week that had users either raising their eyebrows or sharing a laugh. The first two options show standard ride vehicles, while the last one offers the unconventional choice of a “Walking Buddy” for…

Someone attempted to rob an Uber driver at gunpoint Thursday in west suburban Naperville. The driver pulled up about 12:10 p.m. for a fare near Olympus Drive and Tupelo Avenue, according to a statement from Naperville police. A man walking west on the south side of Tupelo got into the car and tried to rob the driver. The attempt was…

Four robberies or thefts were committed by people posing as Uber and Lyft drivers recently in River North and Old Town. Near North detectives say that once the victims get in the car, they’re threatened, sometimes with a gun. They then take your wallet or bag and run up your credit cards. Police say the latest incident happened Jan. 3…

A northwest suburban Uber driver was sentenced to five years in prison last week for attempting to sexually abuse a rider in his vehicle in 2017. Ahmed Tawfeeq, 29, was sentenced Friday on charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and attempted aggravated criminal sexual assault, the McHenry County state’s attorney’s office said. He was also sentenced to three years for…

Flying taxis and a robot that can fetch toilet paper when you’re stranded on the loo were among the technologies showcased this week at the annual CES gadget show in Las Vegas.

Uber and Lyft rides in Chicago will soon be more expensive, as a new tax on ride-share services takes effect Monday.

The new tax is part of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s 2020 budget, which passed City Council in November. She proposed the tax increase in October in an effort to ease traffic congestion and incentivize use of public transportation. NBC 5’s Kye Martin has the details.