受烏克蘭戰(zhàn)局影響,美國油價一路攀升,再創(chuàng)歷史新高,在此背景之下,“加油”已經(jīng)成為Uber和Lyft司機的“不能承受之痛”。
3月6日晚上,當(dāng)45歲的菲利普·吉恩加滿油準備去跑Uber時,每加侖汽油的價格是4.19美元,這一價格已經(jīng)令他感覺“不可思議”,然而7個小時之后,油價又躥升至4.45美元每加侖?!拔业能囀瞧珍J斯(Prius),(跑網(wǎng)約車現(xiàn)在)只能勉強做到收支平衡?!奔髡f。吉恩從四年前開始在賓夕法尼亞州的伊斯頓開網(wǎng)約車,據(jù)他說,過去燃油成本大概占其凈收入的10%?,F(xiàn)在這一比例已經(jīng)提升到60%左右。
隨著俄羅斯不斷加緊對烏克蘭的攻勢,美國油價急速飆漲。3月7日,美國議會領(lǐng)袖就禁止從俄羅斯進口石油達成一致,為迅速打擊俄羅斯原油鋪平了道路。由于市場對此行動已經(jīng)有所預(yù)期,油價出現(xiàn)史上最大單日波動,布倫特原油價格一度飆升至近140美元/桶。
Gasbuddy負責(zé)石油分析業(yè)務(wù)的主管帕特里克·徳罕表示,飆升的油價已經(jīng)以“驚人”速度傳導(dǎo)到加油站零售終端。Gasbuddy是一款幫助用戶尋找加油站、節(jié)省油費的應(yīng)用程序。
GasBuddy的數(shù)據(jù)顯示,全美油價上周平均上漲逾49美分,創(chuàng)下有史以來最大的7日漲幅,甚至超過了2005年卡特里娜颶風(fēng)(Hurricane Katrina)侵襲后的上漲幅度。3月7日,油價一舉突破每加侖4.10美元的歷史高點。
油價暴漲也讓網(wǎng)約車司機們開始考慮,每天四處奔忙拉活是否值得。在菲尼克斯,汽油價格已經(jīng)飆升至每加侖4.16美元,為給自己的林肯MKS轎車(Lincoln MKS)加滿油,46歲的克里斯蒂娜·布朗花了59美元,幾乎相當(dāng)于2021年夏天的兩倍。作為一名單身母親,為補貼家用,布朗每周至少會開10小時的網(wǎng)約車,如果應(yīng)用程序搞活動,她還會增加駕駛時長。
對于正在從新冠疫情中恢復(fù)元氣的Lyft和Uber而言,司機群體的猶豫不決將對其構(gòu)成重大挑戰(zhàn)。面對日漸回暖的市場需求,上述兩家公司一直在努力招募更多的司機,實際上,由于運力不足,乘客已經(jīng)飽受等待時間延長、車費上升之苦。上述兩家公司的高管曾經(jīng)表示,自2021年開始通過發(fā)放獎勵和獎金吸引司機重新上路之后,運力不足的情況已經(jīng)大幅改善。但YipitData的分析師彼得·馬丁稱,在截至2月27日的一周之內(nèi),每英里平均車費較出現(xiàn)司機短缺前的2021年1月已經(jīng)高出18%,此種現(xiàn)象表明,奧密克戎疫情爆發(fā)后,司機短缺問題并未得到徹底解決。
在政府取消諸多疫情管控措施、越來越多的員工重返辦公室辦公之際,油價面臨的空前沖擊給市場平添了更多的不確定性。3月7日早些時候,Uber剛以乘車需求增加為由上調(diào)了本季度的盈利預(yù)期。
目前尚不清楚增加的燃油成本是否將會轉(zhuǎn)嫁到消費者身上。但Uber表示,油價較當(dāng)前平均水平每上漲20%,車費只需增加1%即可保住司機和Uber當(dāng)前的收入水平。
Uber的一位發(fā)言人說:“只有讓司機有錢賺,我們的平臺才能正常運轉(zhuǎn)。因此,未來幾周,我們將持續(xù)監(jiān)控油價走勢,并會聽取司機的意見。”Lyft和Uber均提到了自己與獎勵平臺GetUpside的合作,并表示此舉也是向司機提供即時幫扶的一種方式。(根據(jù)相關(guān)合作,司機在參與活動的加油站每購買一加侖汽油都將獲得GetUpside提供的25美分返現(xiàn)獎勵,Lyft白金司機和黃金司機還能夠獲得更高獎勵。)
但司機們明顯心存顧慮。在活動組織平臺Coworker.org上,一項旨在敦促打車應(yīng)用程序幫助司機應(yīng)對高油價問題的請愿活動已經(jīng)收集到了5500多個簽名。該請愿書要求Uber和Lyft減少抽傭,并向司機支付從接單開始到接到乘客這段路程的車費。
請愿書中寫道:“全職開車已經(jīng)無法維持生計,高油價正在逼我們退出網(wǎng)約車市場。我們需要漲價!”
實際上,在俄烏沖突推高油價之前,布朗已經(jīng)在重新考慮是否還要繼續(xù)開網(wǎng)約車。Lyft司機接單時,應(yīng)用程序只會根據(jù)司機接到乘客之后產(chǎn)生的里程向司機支付費用。她說:“有時候為了接乘客,我需要空駛15分鐘,但送客距離卻只有一英里,這樣每單我只能賺到2.5美元?!彪S著油價飆升,利潤可能還會變得更薄?!叭绻蛢r漲到4.25美元,這行就沒法干了?!辈祭收f。(財富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:梁宇
審校:夏林
受烏克蘭戰(zhàn)局影響,美國油價一路攀升,再創(chuàng)歷史新高,在此背景之下,“加油”已經(jīng)成為Uber和Lyft司機的“不能承受之痛”。
3月6日晚上,當(dāng)45歲的菲利普·吉恩加滿油準備去跑Uber時,每加侖汽油的價格是4.19美元,這一價格已經(jīng)令他感覺“不可思議”,然而7個小時之后,油價又躥升至4.45美元每加侖?!拔业能囀瞧珍J斯(Prius),(跑網(wǎng)約車現(xiàn)在)只能勉強做到收支平衡?!奔髡f。吉恩從四年前開始在賓夕法尼亞州的伊斯頓開網(wǎng)約車,據(jù)他說,過去燃油成本大概占其凈收入的10%?,F(xiàn)在這一比例已經(jīng)提升到60%左右。
隨著俄羅斯不斷加緊對烏克蘭的攻勢,美國油價急速飆漲。3月7日,美國議會領(lǐng)袖就禁止從俄羅斯進口石油達成一致,為迅速打擊俄羅斯原油鋪平了道路。由于市場對此行動已經(jīng)有所預(yù)期,油價出現(xiàn)史上最大單日波動,布倫特原油價格一度飆升至近140美元/桶。
Gasbuddy負責(zé)石油分析業(yè)務(wù)的主管帕特里克·徳罕表示,飆升的油價已經(jīng)以“驚人”速度傳導(dǎo)到加油站零售終端。Gasbuddy是一款幫助用戶尋找加油站、節(jié)省油費的應(yīng)用程序。
GasBuddy的數(shù)據(jù)顯示,全美油價上周平均上漲逾49美分,創(chuàng)下有史以來最大的7日漲幅,甚至超過了2005年卡特里娜颶風(fēng)(Hurricane Katrina)侵襲后的上漲幅度。3月7日,油價一舉突破每加侖4.10美元的歷史高點。
油價暴漲也讓網(wǎng)約車司機們開始考慮,每天四處奔忙拉活是否值得。在菲尼克斯,汽油價格已經(jīng)飆升至每加侖4.16美元,為給自己的林肯MKS轎車(Lincoln MKS)加滿油,46歲的克里斯蒂娜·布朗花了59美元,幾乎相當(dāng)于2021年夏天的兩倍。作為一名單身母親,為補貼家用,布朗每周至少會開10小時的網(wǎng)約車,如果應(yīng)用程序搞活動,她還會增加駕駛時長。
對于正在從新冠疫情中恢復(fù)元氣的Lyft和Uber而言,司機群體的猶豫不決將對其構(gòu)成重大挑戰(zhàn)。面對日漸回暖的市場需求,上述兩家公司一直在努力招募更多的司機,實際上,由于運力不足,乘客已經(jīng)飽受等待時間延長、車費上升之苦。上述兩家公司的高管曾經(jīng)表示,自2021年開始通過發(fā)放獎勵和獎金吸引司機重新上路之后,運力不足的情況已經(jīng)大幅改善。但YipitData的分析師彼得·馬丁稱,在截至2月27日的一周之內(nèi),每英里平均車費較出現(xiàn)司機短缺前的2021年1月已經(jīng)高出18%,此種現(xiàn)象表明,奧密克戎疫情爆發(fā)后,司機短缺問題并未得到徹底解決。
在政府取消諸多疫情管控措施、越來越多的員工重返辦公室辦公之際,油價面臨的空前沖擊給市場平添了更多的不確定性。3月7日早些時候,Uber剛以乘車需求增加為由上調(diào)了本季度的盈利預(yù)期。
目前尚不清楚增加的燃油成本是否將會轉(zhuǎn)嫁到消費者身上。但Uber表示,油價較當(dāng)前平均水平每上漲20%,車費只需增加1%即可保住司機和Uber當(dāng)前的收入水平。
Uber的一位發(fā)言人說:“只有讓司機有錢賺,我們的平臺才能正常運轉(zhuǎn)。因此,未來幾周,我們將持續(xù)監(jiān)控油價走勢,并會聽取司機的意見。”Lyft和Uber均提到了自己與獎勵平臺GetUpside的合作,并表示此舉也是向司機提供即時幫扶的一種方式。(根據(jù)相關(guān)合作,司機在參與活動的加油站每購買一加侖汽油都將獲得GetUpside提供的25美分返現(xiàn)獎勵,Lyft白金司機和黃金司機還能夠獲得更高獎勵。)
但司機們明顯心存顧慮。在活動組織平臺Coworker.org上,一項旨在敦促打車應(yīng)用程序幫助司機應(yīng)對高油價問題的請愿活動已經(jīng)收集到了5500多個簽名。該請愿書要求Uber和Lyft減少抽傭,并向司機支付從接單開始到接到乘客這段路程的車費。
請愿書中寫道:“全職開車已經(jīng)無法維持生計,高油價正在逼我們退出網(wǎng)約車市場。我們需要漲價!”
實際上,在俄烏沖突推高油價之前,布朗已經(jīng)在重新考慮是否還要繼續(xù)開網(wǎng)約車。Lyft司機接單時,應(yīng)用程序只會根據(jù)司機接到乘客之后產(chǎn)生的里程向司機支付費用。她說:“有時候為了接乘客,我需要空駛15分鐘,但送客距離卻只有一英里,這樣每單我只能賺到2.5美元?!彪S著油價飆升,利潤可能還會變得更薄?!叭绻蛢r漲到4.25美元,這行就沒法干了?!辈祭收f。(財富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:梁宇
審校:夏林
Drivers for Uber and Lyft are feeling the pain at the pump as the war in Ukraine drives gas prices in the U.S. to an all-time high.
When Phillipe Jean, 45, filled up his tank to drive for Uber on March 6 night, the price per gallon was $4.19, an “unfathomable,” figure he said. Seven hours later, it jumped to $4.45. “I’m barely breaking even and I’m driving a Prius,” Jean said. The Easton, Pennsylvania-based driver, who began working on rideshare apps four years ago, said fuel costs eat up about 10% of his take-home pay on average. Today, it’s about 60%.
Gas prices have dramatically spiked across the country as Russia’s assault on Ukraine intensifies. On March 7, key U.S. lawmakers reached a deal to bar imports of Russian oil into the U.S., paving the way for a rapid crackdown on crude from the country. Anticipating such a move, oil had its biggest daily swing ever, with the price of a barrel of Brent crude surging to nearly $140.
The surge has trickled down to the pump at a “staggering” pace, according to Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at Gasbuddy, an app that helps users find and save money on gas.
The U.S. national average price of gas is up more than 49 cents in the last week, the largest seven-day increase ever, including the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, GasBuddy data show. On March 7, the price surpassed its all-time high of $4.10 a gallon.
That’s making Uber and Lyft drivers consider whether a rideshare side-hustle is worth sustaining. In Phoenix, where a gallon of gas has soared to $4.16, Christina Brown, 46, spent $59 to fill up her Lincoln MKS sedan, almost double what she paid last summer. As a single parent, Brown supplements income from her job in operations at Delta Airlines Inc. by driving about at least 10 hours a week, and more if the apps offer promotions.
Those kinds of second thoughts pose a key challenge to a pandemic recovery for Lyft and Uber, which have struggled to find enough drivers to meet resurgent customer demand. The imbalance has resulted in higher wait times and fares for customers. The companies’ leaders have said supply has substantially improved since they first began doling out incentives and bonuses last year to lure drivers back on the road. But average weekly charges per mile during the week ending Feb. 27 were 18% higher than in January 2021, a period reflecting pre-driver shortage pricing, a sign that driver inventory hasn’t kept up post-Omicron, said YipitData analyst Peter Martin.
The unprecedented shock to prices at the pump could add more uncertainty to the equation just as many Covid restrictions are being lifted and more workers are heading back to the office. Earlier on March 7 Uber raised its profit outlook for the current quarter, citing increased demand for rides.
It’s unclear whether the higher gas prices are being passed on to consumers just yet. But Uber said that for every 20% increase from today’s average, rider fares would only need to rise 1% to keep drivers’ and, Uber’s cut from each ride, “consistent.”
“Our platform only works if it works for drivers, so we’ll continue to monitor gas prices and listen to drivers over the coming weeks,” an Uber spokesman said. Lyft and Uber both pointed to their partnerships with GetUpside as a way of providing immediate relief for drivers. The rewards platform offers 25 cents in cash back for every gallon of gas purchased at participating gas stations, with higher rewards available for Lyft’s Platinum and Gold drivers.
But drivers are clearly concerned. A campaign aimed at getting ride-hailing apps to help drivers with fuel costs has gathered more than 5,500 signatures on organizing platform Coworker.org. The petition calls for Uber and Lyft to take a smaller commission from fares and to pay drivers the mileage its takes to pick up a passenger from the point where the request was accepted to the destination.
“Can’t afford to keep driving full time. Gas prices are driving us out of the rideshare industry. We need a rate increase!,” the petition reads.
Even before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drove up prices, Brown was reconsidering working for rideshare apps. On Lyft, when a driver accepts a ride, the app only pays for the mileage once the driver has reached a passenger. “Some folks are 15 minutes away from where I’m starting and only go a mile away. I’d only make $2.50 on those rides,” she said. With the spike in fuel costs, those profits could be whittled away even more. “If it hits $4.25 I’m not going to be able to afford to drive,” Brown said.