On Thursday, April 16th, and Friday, April 17th, Alianza in Colombia will host their second annual forum, focusing on the future of transportation and technology as drivers of economic growth, social development, and innovation.

Scheduled just one month before the Presidential elections in Colombia, this year’s event takes place at a pivotal time for the nation. It will convene government officials, business leaders, academics, and technology providers to strategically examine challenges and opportunities anticipated in the coming years.

Alianza In Colombia aims to provide an influential platform for discussion regarding the impact of innovation, regulation, and digital transformation in shaping a more competitive and equitable country that addresses the authentic needs of its citizens.

Matt Daus, President of IATR, will be speaking on “Modernizing Taxicab & Ride-hailing Regulations in Colombia – International Experiences & Insight” on Friday, April 17^th at 3 PM. 

During his presentation, Matt will cover:

• The global inflection point facing the taxi industry and how regulatory frameworks have struggled to keep pace with technological change—along with how Colombia can get it right 
• How Bogotá can build on its leadership in shared mobility to shape forward-looking for-hire transportation policies 
• Strategies for creating a level playing field, including consistent rules across platforms, expanded technology access for taxis, elimination of arbitrary caps, and meaningful enforcement against unlicensed operators 
• Opportunities to integrate taxi and ride-hail services through thoughtful, modern regulatory frameworks

As part of the discussion, he will refer to two IATR reports, Modernizing Taxi Regulations: An Innovative Governance Framework for the Future and Vehicle Licensing Caps: Modernizing the Regulatory Framework, which create the foundation for modernization principles and for open competitive markets that are vital for the industry to be successful and provide high-quality services to riders.

Additional speakers during the conference will include:

• Angela Mendoza, General Manager for Uber Canada
• Karla Wong, Education and Public Sector Leader for Amazon Web Services
• Senya Andreev, Regional Director at inDrive
• Martin Vasquez Escobar, Co-Founder of Aztec
• Diana Rosa Ahumada Garcia, Public Policy Lead BBVA in Columbia
• Carolina Franco, Founder and CEO of Hookloop
• Daniel Schlesinger, Country Manager of Cabify in Colombia
• Daniel Bilbao, CEO and co-founder of Truora

You can find out more about the conference, including the full agenda, list of speakers, and registration details, at Alianza in Congreso. You can also follow along on social media via #FuturoDigital2030 and #AlianzaIN2026.

Flywheel Technologies and Uber Sponsored Mike Harmon Racing No. 74 On Track at Bristol Motor Speedway

Bristol Motor Speedway is known as one of NASCAR’s legendary short tracks with high banks and a half mile concrete tracks that see speeds that average 125 MPH but feel so much faster due to its nonstop close-quarters racing for hundreds of laps. Bristol has been nicknamed “The Last Great Colosseum” and the Suburban Propane 300 on Saturday April 11th lived up to this billing.

Among the notable entries at this year’s race was the primary sponsorship of the Mike Harmon Racing No. 74 by Flywheel Technologies and Uber.

Their partnership reflects a broader strategy of one of the leading global mobility companies and an innovative technology company to engage with motorsports audiences on one of the sport's biggest and most exciting venues.

By working with Mike Harmon Racing for the Suburban Propane 300, Flywheel Technologies, and Uber positioned themselves at the intersection of innovation, transportation, and performance. NASCAR’s national reach and highly engaged fan base provide an ideal environment for mobility-focused brands seeking to reinforce their connection to speed, logistics, and real-world transportation solutions.

The IATR would like to congratulate our friend and long-time IATR supporter Izzy Aala, CEO of Flywheel, for this partnership with NASCAR and Uber. We look forward to seeing the Flywheel car on track more often and in victory lane.

Portland Proposal to Raise Pay for Uber and Lyft Drivers Draws Opposition

Portland city councilors are discussing a proposal that would raise take-home pay for Uber and Lyft drivers by limiting how much money the companies can take from each trip. Councilors are considering a limit of 20% for the portion that Uber and Lyft can take from a driver. Currently, the amount isn’t fixed, and can sometimes be over 40%. Uber and Lyft have threatened to leave Portland over the proposal. Uber claims it would force the company to raise its rates or operate at a loss for most rides. 

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Secret Hudson Air Taxi Trials Set to Take Off from West 30th Street Heliport

Joby Aviation is lining up a short, invitation-only run of piloted electric air taxi demonstration flights out of Manhattan’s West 30th Street Heliport during the week of April 27, with rehearsal runs expected to include brief trips over the Hudson and quick hops linking Midtown to nearby regional airports.

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Waymo Robotaxis Are Tracking Potholes and Sharing That Data with Waze Users

Two Alphabet-owned businesses are teaming up to find potholes and share it with cities.

Waymo and Waze announced Thursday a data-sharing pilot program that will funnel pothole data collected by robotaxis to a free Waze platform designed for cities. Any city or state, where Waymo operates, will be able to access that data as the program expands.

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Toronto: Waymo Seeking to Test Driverless Taxis Here

Waymo is reportedly planning a significant step toward bringing its driverless taxis to Toronto’s streets. But it’s unclear if the California-based tech company will be welcome north of the bor­der, with the mayor and premier harboring concerns about the autonomous driving technology’s impact on local jobs.

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Free Year-Round Bus Rides for These Canadians Being Considered in Mississauga 

Mississauga will consider a motion this week that would let all members of the Canadian Armed Forces ride MiWay transit buses free of charge year-round. If adopted, the proposal will provide free service on city buses for all active regular and reserve members of the CAF as well as veterans upon presentation of the appropriate identification.

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Zero-Emission Trucking Program

Road freight is a key component of the Canadian economy, with an estimated 90% of freight shipments in Canada being hauled by truck. It is also one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions with medium and heavy-duty vehicles, accounting for 27% of Canada's transportation emissions and 6% of Canada's total emissions.

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Black Cab Financing Pressures Under Scrutiny As TfL Weighs Support Options to Stem Driver Decline

Rising vehicle costs and limited access to affordable finance are emerging as central barriers to entry in London’s black cab trade, as Transport for London (TfL) considers intervention to slow a long-term decline in driver numbers. During a recent London Assembly Transport Committee session, Andy Lord confirmed that financial support mechanisms are under active review, acknowledging industry concerns about the affordability of purpose-built taxis.

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UK and EU Face Jet Fuel Crunch As Hormuz Crisis Deepens

European travel and energy markets are bracing for weeks of turbulence as the prolonged disruption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz tightens jet fuel supplies, raising fears that the United Kingdom and key EU economies could be pushed closer to recession if the crisis is not eased soon.

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Europe Says "Goodbye" to Diesel, Albanians Don't Give Up, 6 out of 10 New Cars Are "Diesel"

While all of Europe has moved away from diesel cars, in Albania they continue to account for the largest share of new vehicle registrations, making the consequences of price increases even more noticeable. According to data from the General Directorate of Road Transport Services (GDRT), out of 17.7 thousand vehicles that were registered for the first time in the first quarter of 2026, about 59% of them were diesel.

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Goldman-Backed Go Taxi App Said to Plan Japan IPO This Year

Japan’s most popular taxi-hailing provider Go Inc. is planning an initial public offering this year which could raise several hundred million dollars, according to people familiar with the matter. The IPO could raise in the range of ¥50 billion to ¥80 billion (approximately $300 million and $500 million) and the company is working with banks including Bank of America, Goldman Sachs Group and Nomura Holdings on a possible listing, said the people who asked not to be identified as the information isn’t public. 

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Kabul Residents Complain As Taxi Fares Surge amid Rising Costs

Several residents of Kabul city have expressed concern over the recent increase in urban taxi fares. They say that with the rising prices of fuel and gas, drivers of urban and interprovincial vehicles have arbitrarily raised their fares. These individuals add that, alongside widespread unemployment and high food prices, people do not have the capacity to endure this economic pressure.

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Electric Minibus Taxis: The Challenges and Gains Facing Cape Town’s Transition

The minibus taxi is ubiquitous in southern Africa. These vehicles are the backbone of the urban economy, providing affordable mobility for millions. In Cape Town, South Africa’s second most populous city, they are central to the transport landscape.

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Image: Refresh Miami

Welcome to Miami’s traffic-clogged slice of paradise, Fetii.

With $7.35 million in support from investors that include Mark Cuban and Y Combinator, Austin-based on-demand ride-share company Fetii has arrived in the Miami area, Forbes reported.

But Fetii’s offering is different from the rest of the pack. It offers ride-share service only to groups in vans for up to about 14 or 15 passengers. The service, like others, is booked and paid through its app, but Fetii splits the tab between the passengers. It’s for any group that needs to get from point A to point B, the startup says, such as for friends’ outings, corporate shuttle service, and big events.

Fetii reports that it achieves a cost per seat that is 50% to 70% lower than traditional rideshares, as well as higher margins for fleet operators. “By using AI to solve the complex logistics of on-demand group boarding and autonomous fair-splitting, we are unlocking a segment of the mobility market that has been fundamentally underserved and inefficient,” said Fetii co-founder and CEO Matthew Iommi, in an email.

The company’s announcement follows a three-week beta test in the South Florida market, which Fetii defines as Fort Lauderdale to Miami, including Key Biscayne and Miami Beach, Iommi told Forbes.

Source: RefreshMiami

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