A ridesharing company, also called a ridehailing service, is a company that matches passengers with drivers of vehicles for hire through websites and mobile apps, distinguished from traditional taxis in that its vehicles cannot legally be hailed from the street, and typically setting fares through dynamic pricing while taking a commission on each booking. The industry proliferated through the 2010s as smartphone use grew, beginning with Uber's founding in 2009, followed by Sidecar in 2011, Lyft and Careem in 2012, and Bolt in 2013, the same year California became the first US state to regulate the services. Major operators today include Uber, Lyft, Careem, Bolt, Cabify, Go, and Grab across different international markets, with Freenow acquired by Lyft in 2025. Starting in 2020 robotaxis began offering ridesharing service directly, opening a new technological frontier for the industry.
A ridesharing company, also called a ridehailing service, is a company that matches passengers with drivers of vehicles for hire through websites and mobile apps, distinguished from traditional taxis in that its vehicles cannot legally be hailed from the street, and typically setting fares through dynamic pricing while taking a commission on each booking. The industry proliferated through the 2010s as smartphone use grew, beginning with Uber's founding in 2009, followed by Sidecar in 2011, Lyft and Careem in 2012, and Bolt in 2013, the same year California became the first US state to regulate the services. Major operators today include Uber, Lyft, Careem, Bolt, Cabify, Go, and Grab across different international markets, with Freenow acquired by Lyft in 2025. Starting in 2020 robotaxis began offering ridesharing service directly, opening a new technological frontier for the industry.