Perhaps the network could be valuable to Google? I notice that Waze seems to be inching in that direction, and perhaps they could get value from the mapping too.
The ride-sharing market seems to have network effects, which means the service with 80% of the market will get much more than 80% of the profit.
How would it have worked out if different companies could own stretches of the primary thoroughfare and forbid access to the employees and agents of their competitors? What if Google bought all the streets surrounding Apple and declared that Apple employees couldn't travel on them, lest they face legal action? That's essentially what we have happening online. Real competition is being seriously impeded by laws that allow companies to make it impossible to access data that the user has the right to access.
If we really see the internet as the Information Superhighway, we need to stop restricting access based on corporate interest. The data needs to be accessible. Only then will customers be free to choose the application they want to use based on how well it performs its promised functions, instead of based on its holding the relevant data hostage.
- They own a significant stake in Uber via GV (formerly Google Ventures)
- They own Google Maps, which everyone relies on at the moment
- They own the most advanced self driving car and are closest to Level 4 autonomy
- They own Waze, and have a significant community there
In my mind they should acquire Lyft, let it run as is. Then when they are ready to go primetime with their self driving cars, start piloting them as a cheaper/free option within the Lyft app. If the pilot works, expand the cars nationwide and aggressively finance the fleet using their balance sheet.
They could completely undercut Uber on price AND have better data sets.