The Driverless Digest: Inside Alto’s Fleet Partnership with Uber

In this episode, Harry speaks with Will Coleman, CEO and Co-Founder of Alto, an innovative rideshare and delivery service emphasizing safety, hospitality, and consistency. Will discusses Alto’s operations in multiple U.S. cities, their unique business model involving employed drivers and owned vehicles, and their strategic focus on fleet management as a foundation for electric and autonomous mobility. Most importantly, the conversation delves into Alto’s newest partnership with Uber, the complexities of fleet management, and the differentiation factors contributing to their success, such as lower insurance costs and high service quality. Will also touches on the benefits and challenges of scaling, and shares insights on the future of autonomous vehicles in the rideshare industry. • 00:00 - Introduction to Will Coleman and Alto • 01:09 - Will's alternate bio and podcast introduction • 02:57 - Alto's unique business model • 04:06 - Challenges of fleet management • 08:54 - Partnership with Uber • 16:18 - Benefits of Alto's model for Uber • 21:56 - Unique experience in the rideshare industry • 23:30 - Challenges and solutions in fleet management • 27:14 - The Alto Fleet and electrification • 29:25 - Potential Downsides of the Partnership • 34:00 - Alto’s Place in the Autonomous Vehicle Market • 38:25 - Alto’s reaction to the Waymo Business • 40:46 - Future Plans and Closing Remarks Alto: https://ridealto.com Will Coleman’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-coleman RSG179: Redefining Rideshare with Alto RSG203: An Update on Alto Harry’s Newsletter: The Driverless Digest