Ground Transport

Making a city smarter requires new ideas, and these fresh concepts need testing. The public sector shouldn't be afraid of trying new things and failing as long as the trials are targeted and don't cost too much money.

It's clear that Travis Kalanick, the embattled Uber co-founder and CEO, needs to go. Whether the board can push him out, given Kalanick's stake and leverage in the company, is another question.

Business-to-business travel companies might not be as attractive as their business-to-consumer siblings but they can still command a hefty price tag. CarTrawler is one of Ireland's best-known travel tech companies, and a new owner would likely look to push the company into new areas.

As with river cruising, luxury train travel allows travelers to take their luxury with them from place to place, ensuring the same quality of lodging, no matter the locale.

Car rental giants are working to reduce fleet size following a period of reduced demand. But as ridesharing continues to grow in popularity on a global scale, these companies need to get creative about what the future of on-demand transportation really looks like.

Expedia recognized some time ago that it needed to wire up rail providers, particularly in Europe and Asia, and now it is securing a technology leader in the space for its portfolio of transportation solutions.

Japan ups the ante on luxurious rail travel, and builds a product the operator thinks will diversify revenue sources. Now if only tickets could be had.

Car-sharing marketplaces are finding that partnerships with automotive leasing companies and insurers may be a more cost-effective way to get the word out about their services than using traditional digital marketing efforts.

Everyone has had a rental car nightmare — lost bookings, mysterious dents, or surprise fees. But rental car companies now face a nightmare of their own in fierce car-sharing competition. Expect Hertz's Blacklane deal to be one of many initiatives as it copes.

For Avis Budget Group, strong overseas returns aren't offsetting weakness in the Americas. Through its partnerships with services like Uber and Didi, it's looking for another way to make money with its fleet when rental demand flags.