Uber, the ride-sharing company that upended the taxi business, is facing a huge change to its business model after the California Labor Commission ruled that a plaintiff driver is an employee. San Francisco-based Uber argued that its drivers, who can work whenever and wherever they please, are independent contractors. The company, valued at more than $40 billion in a recent round of financing, also contends that it’s merely a
An Uber driver is an employee, not an independent contractor, the California Labor Commission ruled, dealing what could be a huge change to the ride-sharing company’s business model with broad implications to the so-called “sharing economy.” The ruling was quietly dated June 3 and was part of an appeal in San Francisco County Superior Court filed Tuesday by Uber to get it overturned. The commission ruled that the San Francisco-based Uber is involved
Never mind Tesla Motors’ (TSLA) way of selling electric cars, in its own sales boutiques reminiscent of an Apple (AAPL) Store vs. traditional dealerships. Alibaba Group (BABA), the Chinese online shopping giant, may one-up that idea by selling an online-only electric car. The company has formed a strategic partnership with Lifan Auto, according to a China Daily report that says Lifan will build a small electric-car model exclusively for the