谷歌是否將殺入Uber的地盤

Google GOOG -1.13% is developing a ride-hailingservice that could eventually rely on self-drivingcars, Bloomberg reported Monday. The project wouldput it on a collision course with Uber, which in just afew years has seized a huge chunk of the existingtaxi business.

據(jù)彭博社本周報道，谷歌正在開發(fā)一款最終有可能將依賴無人駕駛汽車的打車服務。這一項目將讓這家科技巨頭與Uber正面交鋒，后者僅用了幾年時間就攫取了出租車行業(yè)的一大塊市場蛋糕。

There is no word on when a Google ride-sharingservice would become available to the general public, though Bloomberg reported that thecompany is testing a version of the service with its employees.

目前尚無消息顯示，谷歌的打車服務將在什么時候面向公眾開放，不過據(jù)彭博社報道，谷歌目前正在向其內(nèi)部員工測試該服務。

 

 

Google’s potential move into the market comes two years after its venture capital arm, GoogleVentures, led a massive 2013 investment in Uber that valued it around $3.5 billion. Subsequentfunding rounds have valued Uber at more than $40 billion.

2013年，谷歌旗下風投機構(gòu)Google Ventures領銜的財團向Uber投入巨額資金，使得這家打車服務商的估值達到35億美元，此后的幾輪融資更使它的估值達到400億美元以上。兩年后的今天，谷歌決定親自上陣，挺進這一市場。

Concerned about Google’s possible entry, Uber is considering removing Google’s chief legalofficer, David Drummond, from its board of directors, according to Bloomberg, which citedanonymous sources. Drummond has been a board member since 2013.

據(jù)彭博社引述匿名人士的消息，由于擔心這家科技巨擘的潛在攻勢，Uber正在考慮將谷歌公司首席法務官大衛(wèi)o德拉蒙德請出董事會。德拉蒙德從2013年起開始擔任Uber的董事會成員。

Meanwhile, Uber is moving forward with plans to develop its own driverless vehicle technologyand is building a research facility in Pittsburgh to explore the idea, TechCrunch reported.Autonomous cars would let Uber avoid having to share money from passengers with drivers.

另據(jù)TechCrunch報道，與此同時，Uber也計劃開發(fā)自己的無人駕駛汽車技術，該公司目前正在匹茲堡市建立一個研究技構(gòu)，探索該創(chuàng)意的可行性。無人駕駛汽車將使Uber避免與出租車司機分享乘客的打車費用。

Google and Uber did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

谷歌和Uber都沒有立刻回應《財富》的置評請求。

A few months ago, Fortune wondered if Google and ride-sharing startup Uber might be on “acollision course” over dueling on-demand delivery services. But the two tech companies couldbe headed for an even bigger clash.

早在幾個月前，《財富》就曾預測谷歌與Uber有可能在打車服務上進入“并行道”。但這兩家科技公司也有可能面臨更大的沖突。

Uber has already made more than its share of enemies in a series of controversies including byignoring regulators and taking on taxi companies, some of which have sued to stop thenewcomer. Uber and ride-hailing service rival Lyft have exchanged public accusations whilecompeting for customers and drivers. A number of passengers have also accused Uber driversof questionable conduct, including a woman in Los Angeles who accused her Uber driver ofsexually assaulting her this week.

人紅是非多。Uber已經(jīng)陷入一系列爭議，樹敵頗多。很多人指責它無視監(jiān)管，對抗出租車公司，一些出租車公司甚至提起訴訟，要求“封殺”這位不速之客。Uber正在與另一個打車應用Lyft爭搶顧客和司機，一直沒有停止相互公開指責。此外，也有不少乘客指責Uber司機的個人素質(zhì)有問題。比如，洛杉磯的一位女乘客本周就指控說，她通過Uber找到的一名司機對她進行了性騷擾。

In other words, a battle with Google would only be the latest conflict for Uber.

換句話說，對于Uber而言，與谷歌對抗只是一長串戰(zhàn)役中的最近一次罷了。(財富中文網(wǎng))