No immediate plans for delivery service, says Lyft

While Uber is steaming ahead with plans to branch out into the delivery business, fellow ride-hailing company Lyft has indicated that it wants – for now, at least – to focus on its core activities. In an article published yesterday (17 August), US-based techno-website Re/code claimed that Lyft Chief Technology Officer Chris Lambert had told their reporter that his company had “flirted” with the idea of going into the local delivery market, but decided against it. Lyft, added Re/code, “performed a few small tests — such as its stunt delivery of Starbucks iced coffee — but did not pursue anything further”.

“It would be irresponsible to not look at it,” Lambert was quoted as saying. “But there’s a big difference between doing a fun test and doing delivery.”

The Lyft CIO reportedly added that the company has no current plans to pursue local delivery. Instead, its immediate goals are to focus on its original service and its carpooling product, Lyft Line.

Uber, meanwhile, has taken another step forward in the delivery sector this week, with the launch of its UberEATS food delivery service in San Francisco.