- Chariot, the crowd-sourced shuttle
service launching in New York, will offer in-app ride booking for
first- and last-mile commuting solutions, and the potential to
reach underserved areas
- Chariot debuts in New York with two
pre-planned service areas and a flat rate of $4 per ride; commuters
can crowd-source additional routes in and around the city
- New York marks the third market for
Chariot’s expansion as Ford grows its mobility services; Chariot
plans to have 60 vehicles in operation by fall
Looking to expand its mobility offerings, Ford Motor Company is
launching its crowd-sourced shuttle service Chariot in New York
City in August, aiming to provide new mobility solutions to
consumers.
This Smart News Release features multimedia.
View the full release here:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170727006119/en/
Ford Motor Company is launching its
crowd-sourced shuttle service Chariot in New York City in August,
aiming to provide new mobility solutions to consumers. (Photo:
Business Wire)
Chariot offers commuters, some of whom live in transit deserts –
areas that are not within walking distance of public transportation
– a new way of getting from point A to point B. During typical
commuting times, Chariot shuttles will travel to busy areas where
people work, then bring them back at the end of the day. Each
Chariot comfortably accommodates more than a dozen people and
guarantees seats for every rider.
“Our mission at Chariot is to provide reliable, safe and
affordable transportation for as many people as possible,” said
Chariot CEO Ali Vahabzadeh. “We want to connect people more easily
to where they want to go – whether they need help making it to a
transit hub or live in an area underserved by public
transportation.”
New York is the latest market to get Chariot’s service, which is
launching with two pre-planned service areas in Manhattan and
Brooklyn, at a flat rate of $4 per ride. People can create
additional service areas through crowd-sourcing. By this fall,
Chariot plans to have 60 vehicles operating in New York City.
Your (easier-to-use) Chariot awaits
As part of the New York launch, commuters will be able to use a
streamlined crowd-sourcing process to make the experience more
user-friendly. The Chariot map will display service areas being
crowd-sourced – giving commuters the chance to choose and
contribute to these potential service areas.
Users can even create a custom route for areas they feel would
benefit from Chariot, then share their proposal with friends,
family and neighbors who may be taking similar commutes. Once
enough riders sign up to support and fund a proposed route, as many
Chariots as needed will be dispatched to service the area.
Ford’s own Global Data, Insights and Analytics team is
supplementing Chariot’s planning. The group helps Chariot identify
potential routes using advanced optimization algorithms based on
commuter demand and behavior, as well as traffic data and existing
infrastructure.
Using Chariot is easy. Riders simply check the app to find
commuter routes near them, then reserve a guaranteed seat as they
head toward their assigned Chariot. Keeping the service affordable
is a priority, and solutions such as WageWorks and commuter checks
– which allow people to use pretax wages to pay for commuting costs
– are fully compatible with Chariot use.
Enabling commuters – wherever and however they choose
With New York City’s growing population, more people are using
public transportation. In 2016, average weekday ridership on the
subway was 5.7 million people – the highest since 1948, according
to the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority. Annual ridership
topped 1.7 billion.
Not only does the sheer number of commuters make getting around
difficult, but access for people in the city’s transit deserts is a
particular challenge. While 94 percent of residential units in
Manhattan are within half a mile of a subway stop, only 54 percent
of units in Queens are, according to research by New York
University’s Furman Center. For many, simply getting to a transit
point can be difficult.
“We know how important it is for everyone to be able to get
around effectively – especially in densely populated places like
New York,” said Jessica Robinson, director, Ford City Solutions.
“Chariot is one way we’re trying to help cities accommodate their
residents and ensure people aren’t sacrificing their needs as a
result of limited mobility options.”
Chariot can expand the reach of public transportation and offer
first- and last-mile solutions to complete commuter routes. In San
Francisco, where Chariot operates 12 commuter service areas, about
20 percent of riders use it to connect to transit hubs such as BART
and Caltrain, or to ferry terminals.
The service can also be used to supplement public transit at
peak commuting times, keeping large groups of people moving without
the need for single-occupancy vehicles. According to a study
conducted by KPMG, every Chariot in operation can remove about 10
cars from roads.
In addition to commuter service, Chariot is launching enterprise
and charter services in New York City. Enterprise is available for
companies that would like to provide shared commutes for their
employees, while charters allow users to directly book a private
14-passenger Chariot for day trips or events.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn,
Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a
full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and
Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford
Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in
electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford
employs approximately 202,000 people worldwide. For more
information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit
Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
For news releases, related materials and
high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170727006119/en/
Ford Motor CompanyAngie
Kozleski313.218.8203akozlesk@ford.comorChariotErin
Simpson310.351.8451erin@chariot.com
Ford Motor (NYSE:F)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Ford Motor (NYSE:F)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024