NYC just ghosted 273,000 vehicles. Plus: Lyft’s quiet fleet play, GPS-free robocars, and why EV charging is finally catching up.

If your car flinched when you walked past a bus stop this week, it might’ve sensed what’s coming. NYC just made a big move that could change how cities and carshare businesses operate.

New York City launched a congestion pricing plan, and the results were immediate.
Over 273,000 cars disappeared from Manhattan’s core within a week. That’s a 7.5% drop in traffic in record time.

Public transit surged. Subway ridership jumped 12.7%, and bus use climbed 10%.
But if you make money through cars—rental, rideshare, deliveries—this changes the game.

This isn't just about traffic. It's a message from the city:
"Use a car when you need to. Otherwise, keep it parked."

Carshare operators are rethinking drop zones.
Small businesses are feeling the squeeze.
And Uber drivers are doing the math on whether Midtown is still worth the trip.

We’re watching the start of something big.
Fewer cars, smarter usage, and more room for shared models.
If this works in New York, other cities won’t be far behind.

👉 Here’s the full story if you want to dig into the details.

While everyone’s watching autonomous vehicle rollouts, Lyft is doing something sneakier—and maybe smarter.
Their FlexDrive program lets drivers rent vehicles to other drivers.

This flips the script. You don’t need to drive to make money with Lyft.
You can own the vehicles, build a mini fleet, and collect income while others do the driving.

It’s like Airbnb, but for cars.
And it’s starting to make traditional rideshare look a little outdated.

→ GPS? Not Required Anymore
At SXSW, Tern AI showed off a new navigation system that doesn’t rely on satellites, Wi-Fi, or towers.
Just sensors and maps. It’s more secure, more reliable, and may change how AVs work in the future.

→ EV Charging That’s Actually Fast
Chinese EV maker BYD just dropped a megawatt charger that fills your car nearly as fast as gas.
The race to make EVs more convenient is heating up fast.

→ Zoox Feels Like a Living Room on Wheels
Amazon’s Zoox just completed another round of autonomous testing in San Francisco.
It’s small, smooth, and clearly designed for shared rides instead of personal ownership.

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What’s a feature your personal car has that you wish every shared ride offered?
Hit reply and let us know. If we love your answer, we might feature it next week.