GM, Lyft Announce Parternersip, Autonomous Fleet Ambitions
General Motors President Dan Ammann (center) with Lyft Inc. co-founders John Zimmer (right) and Logan Green (left)
Photo: © General Motors
General Motors has announced that it will invest $500 million into Lyft as part of a newly-formed partnership that aims to create an on-demand autonomous vehicle fleet for the United States.
“We see the future of personal mobility as connected, seamless and autonomous,” said GM President Dan Ammann. “With GM and Lyft working together, we believe we can successfully implement this vision more rapidly.”
The investment will help Lyft expand its current ride-sharing service model, and it ostensibly purchases General Motors a seat on the company’s board of directors. GM will now also become Lyft’s preferred provider for short-term use vehicles, and Lyft customers will be granted access to GM’s OnStar services for a more connected experience.
“Working with GM, Lyft will continue to unlock new transportation experiences that bring positive change to our daily lives,” said John Zimmer, president and co-founder of Lyft. “Together we will build a better future by redefining traditional car ownership.”
The ultimate goal of the partnership—a fleet of fully autonomous on-demand vehicles—will presumably give GM and Lyft the distinct edge over its competitors in the quest to perfect alternative mobility solutions.
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