Latest Sharing Economy Headlines

All the headlines from our Sharing Economy Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Fleet of Self-Driving Uber Cars Gets Warm Welcome from Arizona Governor

Dec 27 2016 // Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is happy about the arrival of a fleet of Uber self-driving cars delivered via a self-driving truck that transported them from California.Ducey’s office says the governor welcomed the truck...

Uber, Lyft Drivers in Maryland Won’t Have to Submit Fingerprints

Dec 27 2016 // Uber and Lyft drivers in Maryland won’t have to submit their fingerprints for background checks after the ride-hailing companies complained about the proposal. The Maryland Public Service Commission announced...

Uber Capitulates, Takes Self-driving Cars off Streets of San Francisco

Dec 22 2016 // Uber Technologies Inc has removed its self-driving cars from San Francisco streets after California regulators cracked down on the week-old program because the company had not obtained a permit to test the vehicles.The...

Lawmakers OK Uber, Lyft to Operate in New Jersey

Dec 21 2016 // New Jersey lawmakers have given their OK to ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft.Lawmakers on Monday approved a measure to make the services legal. If approved by Republican Gov. Chris Christie, the measure would allow...

Florida Uber Driver Shoots, Kills Would-Be Robber

Dec 20 2016 // Police say an Uber driver fatally shot a would-be robber who tried to ambush him near an upscale South Florida mall.Aventura police spokesman Chris Goranitis told local media that the driver had picked up a passenger about...

California Attorney General Warns Uber over Self-Driving Cars

Dec 19 2016 // California Attorney General Kamala Harris has told Uber Technologies Inc. to pull its self-driving cars from San Francisco’s streets or it will seek a court order forcing it do so, saying the ride-hailing company...

California Vs. Uber in Legal Bout over Self-driving Cars

Dec 16 2016 // Uber is riding its self-driving cars into a legal showdown with California regulators.The ridesharing company is refusing to obey demands by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles that it immediately stop picking...

California Orders Uber to Halt Self-Driving Operations

Dec 15 2016 // California regulators warned ride-hailing company Uber on Wednesday that it would face legal action if it did not immediately stop giving people in San Francisco rides in self-driving cars until it receives permission from...

Uber’s ‘Self-Driving’ Cars Already Roaming Streets of San Francisco

Dec 14 2016 // Uber Technologies Inc. continues to dive head first into autonomous vehicles. Just don’t call them that in California.Starting today, Uber is letting customers in San Francisco hop in a self-driving car, if...

Crawford Buys Majority Stake in ‘Uber-Like’ Field Inspection Firm WeGoLook

Dec 12 2016 // Global claims management firm Crawford & Co. has acquired a majority interest in WeGoLook, an online and mobile inspection firm that calls itself the “Uber of inspections.”Crawford said it agreed to pay...

Uber Wants Pennsylvania to Delay Rules for Driverless Cars

Dec 9 2016 // Ride-sharing company Uber wants the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to delay policy recommendations that govern the testing of driverless cars.Uber, which has been testing the driverless cars in Pittsburgh for...

A Conciliatory Airbnb Offers Guidelines for Cities’ Homesharing Regulation

Dec 9 2016 // In a moment of peace-making with regulators, Airbnb on Wednesday released a set of policy suggestions for governments that are considering new laws for home- and apartment-renting.The document, which comes on the heels of...

Airbnb, New York City Settle Rental Law Lawsuit

Dec 6 2016 // Airbnb Inc. and New York City said on Friday they had resolved a lawsuit brought by the company challenging a law it argued could expose it to significant penalties for advertising short-term apartment rentals.Airbnb filed...

Uber Drivers in Taiwan Threatened with Fines of $780,000 in Draft Rules

Dec 6 2016 // Investors and companies are getting a preview of how the Taiwan government’s plan to become “Asia’s Silicon Valley” might fare.Uber Technologies Inc., one of Silicon Valley’s most disruptive...

BMW to Test Autonomous Vehicles in Munich in 2017

Dec 5 2016 // BMW will test autonomous vehicles in Munich next year as it seeks to keep up with ride-hailing firms like Uber, which have spent billions on pay-per-use personal transport.The German carmaker will have about 40 vehicles...

Uber Case in Europe’s High Court Could Affect Sharing Economy Firms

Nov 30 2016 // Uber defended its business model in Europe’s highest court on Tuesday, saying its service had made it easier for people to get around and cut pollution as it fights a case which could leave app-based startups facing...

EU Court to Decide Whether Uber Is an App or a Transport Company

Nov 30 2016 // Fifteen judges at the European Union’s top court are trying to decide, once and for all, whether Uber Technologies Inc. is an app or a transport company. The question has long vexed regulators and lawmakers across...

Uber Looking to Begin Service in Wyoming for First Time

Nov 28 2016 // The ridesharing service Uber is looking to begin service in Wyoming, one of the few states where it’s not yet doing business.Wyoming law will need to be changed before ridesharing services may operate in the state....

Unions, Gig-Economy Firms Prepare for New York Benefits Battle

Nov 28 2016 // Faced with a barrage of lawsuits from workers demanding benefits and recognition as employees, some companies in the fast-growing ‘gig economy’ are looking to settle the issues through legislation.Joseph...

Uber Working to Settle with California Drivers over Employee Benefits

Nov 17 2016 // Uber Technologies Inc. is trying to finalize a settlement with California drivers to resolve potentially billions of dollars in claims stemming from the company’s refusal to give them the protections and benefits of...