Ridesharing company
A ridesharing company (also known as a transportation network company, ride-hailing service; the vehicles are called app-taxis or e-taxis) is a company that, via websites and mobile apps, matches passengers with drivers of vehicles for hire that, unlike taxis, cannot legally be hailed from the street.
| E-commerce |
|---|
| Digital content |
| Retail goods and services |
| Online shopping |
| Mobile commerce |
| Customer service |
| E-procurement |
| Purchase-to-pay |
| Super-apps |
Ridesharing companies were founded after the proliferation of the Internet and mobile apps: Uber was founded in 2009, Ola Cabs was founded in 2010, Yandex Taxi was launched in 2011, Sidecar was launched in 2011, Lyft was launched in 2012, DiDi was launched in 2012, Careem began operations in 2012, Bolt was founded in 2013, and Free Now was founded in 2019.
The legality of ridesharing companies by jurisdiction varies; in some areas they are considered to be illegal taxi operations, while in other areas, they are subject to regulations that can include requirements for driver background checks, fares, caps on the number of drivers in an area, insurance, licensing, and minimum wage.
Studies have shown that ridesharing companies have created net jobs and improved the efficiency of drivers of vehicles for hire due to advanced algorithms that pair riders with drivers.