Skip to main content
NTv Online

Business

Business
  • Budget
  • Economy
  • Industry
  • Markets
  • More
  • Service
  • Tech
  • Bangla Version
  • Archive
  • Bangladesh
  • World
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Comment
  • Education
  • Life
  • Health
  • Art & Culture
  • Election
  • বাংলা
  • Bangladesh
  • World
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Comment
  • Education
  • Life
  • Health
  • Art & Culture
  • Election
  • বাংলা
  • Bangla Version
  • Archive
Follow
  • Business
Reuters
15 September, 2015, 18:14
Update: 15 September, 2015, 18:29
More News
Bus tickets for Eid passengers available on bdtickets.com
Beximco communications launches AKASH DTH
Grameenphone hits one crore 4G internet users
Bangladesh takes part in Fashion World Tokyo fair
BB heist: US Federal Reserve assists Bangladesh

Mercedes eyes driverless on-demand limousine service as potential market

Reuters
15 September, 2015, 18:14
Update: 15 September, 2015, 18:29
A Mercedes-Benz logo is seen on a car displayed on media day at the Paris Mondial de l'Automobile on 2 October, 2014. Photo: Reuters

Frankfurt: German carmaker Mercedes-Benz sees business potential in offering on-demand limousine services using driverless cars, Daimler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche said, in what amounts to a direct challenge to Uber.

Germany's oldest carmaker is considering setting up large fleets of autonomous cars to cater to a new customer base which is less attracted to vehicle ownership but still interested in using premium transportation services like limousines.

‘This is a concrete development goal of ours,’ Zetsche told Reuters on the sidelines of a Mercedes-Benz event on the eve of the Frankfurt auto show.

Daimler already has car2go, its own car-sharing service which allows subscribers to locate and rent a nearby vehicle from a fleet of Daimler-owned vehicles using a smartphone.

‘It would be even more convenient if the car came to you autonomously,’ Zetsche said.

‘And it would be extremely practical if the car2go appeared without needing to be prompted, once my appointment in the calendar had come to an end.’

In addition to building and selling cars, there is money to be made from the software to run a self-driving vehicle, as well as services associated with autonomous driving, such as mapping, car-sharing and car recharging services.

In August Daimler, BMW and Audi bought high-definition mapping service HERE. A year earlier Daimler bought MyTaxi, an app that allows customers to hail a cab, track its progress and pay for the ride using a smartphone.

Zetsche said that the combination of car rental services and autonomous vehicles opens up new business opportunities.

‘I think you don't need too much imagination to see that by combining these strengths, attractive business models are possible in future,’ Zetsche said.

Mercedes has already developed a prototype autonomous car, but self-driving cars are not expected to hit showrooms until 2025, as regulators grapple with questions of liability.

Consultants at Boston Consulting Group said the falling cost of technology means that taxi services with autonomous vehicles could be up to 35 percent cheaper than conventional cabs.

Daimler's expansion plans in car sharing are being closely watched by rival BMW, which operates the DriveNow car-sharing service, and by Uber which has said it will expand into 100 Chinese cities over the next year.

The market penetration of vehicles with autonomous features is expected to reach 13 percent by 2025, representing a market of roughly $42 billion, Boston Consulting Group said.

In August 2013, Mercedes-Benz developed an S-class limousine which drove between Mannheim and Pforzheim without driver input.

 

Most Read
  1. Rely on your refrigerator even during power outage
  2. ‘SpaceMax’ with Samsung Side-by-Side refrigerators
  3. Samsung’s TV Lineup to uplift entertainment and sports experience
  4. The season for TV entertainment is back
  5. Samsung launched exclusive campaign titled “Big TV Days”
  6. Succession replacement required to achieve organizational goal
Most Read
  1. Rely on your refrigerator even during power outage
  2. ‘SpaceMax’ with Samsung Side-by-Side refrigerators
  3. Samsung’s TV Lineup to uplift entertainment and sports experience
  4. The season for TV entertainment is back
  5. Samsung launched exclusive campaign titled “Big TV Days”
  6. Succession replacement required to achieve organizational goal

Follow Us

Alhaj Mohammad Mosaddak Ali

Chairman & Managing Director

NTV Online, BSEC Building (Level-8), 102 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Karwan Bazar, Dhaka-1215 Telephone: +880255012281 up to 5, Fax: +880255012286 up to 7

Browse by Category

  • About NTV
  • NTV Programmes
  • Advertisement
  • Web Mail
  • NTV FTV
  • Satellite Downlink
  • Europe Subscription
  • USA Subscription
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact

Our Newsletter

To stay on top of the ever-changing world of business, subscribe now to our newsletters.

* We hate spam as much as you do

Alhaj Mohammad Mosaddak Ali

Chairman & Managing Director

NTV Online, BSEC Building (Level-8), 102 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Karwan Bazar, Dhaka-1215 Telephone: +880255012281 up to 5, Fax: +880255012286 up to 7

Reproduction of any content, news or article published on this website is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved