Uber plans to double the size of its Toronto technical team

Photo by Charles Deluvio/Unsplash

Before 2021 is over, Uber plans to double the size of its technical team in Toronto. The ride-hailing and food delivery company plans to hire around 60 people for its engineering, data science, design, and product management teams. There will also be two new divisions coming to Canada—one will focus on core rider experience and the other on memberships.

The former will manage, improve, and develop products and infrastructure needed for the Uber app to work and be more reliable for riders. The latter will focus on growing Uber's members by looking for ways to offer new partnerships, integrations, and exclusive deals. This hiring comes after Uber laid off over 3,000 of its global staff (around 14%) because demand plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: CP24

Uber Eats will now serve the Saanich Peninsula

This is the area covered by Uber Eats in the Saanich Peninsula (Source: Uber Eats)

Uber Eats is bringing its services up the Saanich Peninsula. It will offer food delivery, online ordering, and pick-up just north of Sidney and then stretching into Saanich. It will exclude an area west of John Dean Provincial Park. Uber's food delivery arm has been available in Victoria since 2018. If you want to use the service, you'll need to download the Uber Eats app.

Source: Victoria News

Uber sells self-driving unit to Aurora

Source: Uber

Uber selling off its self-driving division isn't a surprise. But now, we learn that it is selling its Advanced Technologies Group (ATG) to Aurora Innovation, an autonomous vehicle startup and once its rival. Uber will invest US$400 million in Aurora as part of the deal, and its CEO Dara Khosrowshahi will join the startup's board of directors.

As Engadget puts it, Uber is paying Aurora to take ATG off its hands. In the short term, Aurora will use ATG's tech for its self-driving truck. Later on, there will be robot taxis as Uber is licensing the tech from Aurora. 

This sale won't be the last sale Uber will make as it tries to carve a path to profitability. This month, Uber is said to be in advanced talks with Joby Aviation to sell its flying taxi division. This sale could be confirmed in the next few weeks.

Uber launches 'rider mask verification' in Canada

Source: Vera Davidova/Unsplash

Uber has started rolling out its "rider mask verification" across Canada to help implement its "No Mask, No Ride" policy it implemented back in May. If a driver reports that a rider isn't wearing a mask, the rider will be required to take a selfie with their mask or face cover before they can take their next Uber trip. Uber has said it removed access of over 1,250 riders in Canada and the US for failing to abide by the policy.

For their part, Uber drivers and delivery people are also required to verify that they're wearing a mask before they start to drive passengers or deliver food. They need to take a selfie that shows their mouth and nose are covered.

Source: Uber