Uber is reportedly in advanced talks for the acquisition of simulation and autonomous driving startup Foresight. The news came amid rising criticism for the company due to allegations of harassment incidents.
The Information first reported the story on Uber acquiring Foresight but not too many details were revealed. On the other hand, the price instilled on the the acquisition was for covering costs for the startup's self-driving software.
The ride-hailing giant's software has experienced multiple bugs in the past months, which could be why it is seeking to acquire an autonomous driving group, industry experts noted.
A source with knowledge of the situation revealed that issues with Uber's simulation software caused a drawback in developing a self-driving car prototype that should further boost the ride-hailing company's popularity.
The report on Uber's latest move came amid mounting pressure to fix the ride-hailing provider's systems and operations models. Furthermore, passengers and regulators alike have questioned the company's safety structures following multiple reports of an assault.
Two years earlier, the company received 2,936 reports of harassment, Tech Crunch reported. In 2018, the number of reports climbed to 3,045 but the company posted a 16 percent slump in incident rates.
Uber clarified that the reports of assault did not just happen to riders. Instead, even drivers were assaulted during the past two years, with riders making up almost half of the accused based on records.
In a blog post released after the ride-hailing giant unveiled its first-ever safety incident report, Uber chief legal officer Tony West explained that the company believes "it's time for a new approach."
West was referring to the fact that many companies around the world do not publicly release records of assault due to fears of public criticism. On the other hand, West argued that the approach Uber took was necessary at this time.
The company has been working on implementing safety measures both for riders and drivers. Among the initiatives raised for safety are the Ride Check feature, an in-app 911 call feature, and GPS sensor activation in cases where there is unusual activity by the vehicle.
In response to Uber's revelations, U.S. lawmakers called on the government for more action in implementing stricter measures to protect riders and drivers alike, Reuters reported.
Democrat representative Peter DeFazio said the move is an excellent step in transparency but he also urged the company to keep establishing "formal policies" as well as better reporting channels to ensure safety.
It remains to be seen how Uber's harassment problems will affect its reported goal of acquiring Foresight.
