Via Transportation

Via Transportation, Inc. provides software as a service (SaaS) and mobility as a service to operators of public transportation, multimodal transport, paratransit operations in compliance with laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, non-emergency medical transportation, logistics and deliveries, school bus fleets, commercial ridesharing and corporate shuttles, and autonomous vehicles. Its customers include cities, transportation authorities, government entities, school districts, universities, and private organizations worldwide. It was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in New York City.

Via provides technology, but organizations provide vehicle fleets, drivers, and their live service staff. Partners may also choose to have Via supply these resources, including full vehicle and operational management.

Organizations that use Via's technology include Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) in Berlin, King County Metro in Seattle, and Transport for London, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) in Australia.

History
The company was founded in 2012 by Daniel Ramot and Oren Shoval.

On July 9, 2019, Via announced the appointment of Charles Rivkin, the chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, to its board of directors.

In December 2021, Via filed for an initial public offering. At that time, Via had more than 500 partnerships in more than 35 countries.

Ridesharing
In September 2013, the company launched a ridesharing service in the Upper East Side of New York City, based on the founders' experience with Sherut shared taxis in Israel. The ridesharing service expanded to all of Manhattan in October 2015, Chicago by November 2015, Washington, D.C., in August 2016, Brooklyn in November 2016, all five Boroughs of New York City by January 2018, Arlington, Virginia, in October 2018,  Alexandria, Virginia, in May 2019, and Evanston and West Chicago and other areas of Chicago in May 2019. Via partnered with Curb to allow users to hail a yellow taxi for a shared ride in certain areas of Manhattan. In December 2021, Via discontinued the last of its direct-to-consumer rideshare operations to focus on public transport operations.

Ridership in Via’s networks increased 67% between 2021 and 2022 in part due to a series of expansions of existing services and new launches.

Europe
In September 2017, Via formed ViaVan in a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz for on-demand shuttle services in Europe. This joint venture was dissolved with full ownership returning to Via in January 2021.

Via launched its first operations in March 2018 in Amsterdam.

In December 2017, Via announced a partnership with Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) and Mercedes-Benz Vans to establish BerlKönig, the largest public sector on-demand transit deployment in the world with 300 vehicles.

In April 2018, Via launched in London.

In October 2018, Via launched in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, the company's fourth deployment in Europe.

In February 2019, Via announced a 1-year partnership with Transport for London (TfL) for on-demand buses in Sutton, London in collaboration with Go-Ahead London, part of Go-Ahead Group.

In April 2019, Via and Arriva launched the third deployment of ArrivaClick in the Drummond Estate development in Leicester, England, one of the largest new housing developments in the East Midlands.

On June 28, 2019, Via completed the pilot phase of an on-demand corporate shuttle at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen, with plans to expand the program to other Mercedes-Benz plants.

In July 2019, in partnership with Debono Group, Via launched Cool, Malta's first ridesharing service, covering 28 Maltese neighborhoods at launch.

Also in July 2019, Via received a three-year license renewal from Transport for London. The company announced it provided more than 7 million rides in London since launching, saving 3 million vehicle kilometers by pooling multiple passengers into shared vehicles, resulting in more than 600,000 kilograms of saved.

In August 2019, Via announced "BerlKönig BC", a public transportation deployment on behalf of Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) connecting to U-Bahn railway stations in Brandenburg traditionally underserved by fixed route services.

In September 2019, Via launched service to connect to metro stations in Espoo, Finland in partnership with the Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (HSL).

In October 2019, using Mercedes-Benz Vitos, Via launched the UK's first fully electric fleet serving on-demand shared rides in Milton Keynes with funding from the Milton Keynes Council.

Later that month, in partnership with moBiel, operator of Bielefeld Stadtbahn, Via began operating Anton, technology for on-demand shared rides in Bielefeld, Germany.

In November 2019, Via partnered with Royal Dutch Shell to launch "Shell Recharge", a fast-charging shared electric mobility project in Amsterdam.

In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Via partnered with Transport for Wales to launch Fflecsi, a demand-responsive transport service called in Wales.

Also in May 2020, in partnership with Stagecoach Group, Via launched a service dedicated for National Health Service workers in the United Kingdom.

In June 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in partnership with the Sutton London Borough Council, Via launched a delivery platform for emergency goods in Sutton, London.

In June 2020, Via launched an all-electric vehicle on-demand public transport service in Oberhausen.

In October 2020, in partnership with WSW Mobil, Via launched a service in Wuppertal.

In November 2020, Via launched an on-demand public transport service in Zürich in partnership with the Zürich Transport Authority (VBZ).

In December 2020, in partnership with Stadtwerke Köln, Via launched "Isi", an on-demand service in Cologne. Also that month, it launched a similar service in Gütersloh in partnership with Stadtbus Gütersloh.

In January 2021, Via began powering SSB Flex, the on-demand public transport service in Stuttgart.

In July 2021, with funding from the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Via launched KEXI Kelheim, a service in Kelheim.

In 2021, Via partnered with Region Hannover in Hannover, Germany to launch Sprinti. As of 2023, Sprinti serves more than 360,000 residents and received the German Mobility Award in December 2023.

In 2022, Via partnered with Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe in Berlin, Germany to introduce BVG Muva, an on-demand public transport service with two distinct use cases – to connect riders to public transportation in an underserved area, and to connect passengers with limited mobility to public transit stations with functional elevators. These services enable passengers needing barrier-free transportation in Berlin to access public transport hubs in a flexible way.

In 2021, Via partnered with The State of Berlin to introduce BerlMobil in Berlin, Germany as a special transport service for people with disabilities. The service serves up to 25,000 residents in Berlin.

In 2021, Via launched MK Connect, a demand-responsive transport service, in partnership with Milton Keynes Council in the United Kingdom. In 2023, MK Connect won the national CiTTi Award as a “Best Public Transport Service” in the UK.

In late 2021, Arriva launched the Vlinder demand-responsive transport program in the Zutphen area of the Netherlands, with Via as the software provider. In October 2023, Arriva reported that Vlinder was running an average of 16% faster than bus lines and offered an important response to some of the unpredictable travel patterns that emerged since the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2022, Via partnered with Nottinghamshire County Council in the United Kingdom to launch Nottsbus On Demand.

In 2023, Via partnered with the West of England Combined Authority in the United Kingdom to introduce WestLink, an on-demand public transport service funded by a £3m Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) grant awarded to the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA) and North Somerset council. WestLink serves remote areas previously devoid of conventional bus services and at the time of launch, was one of the largest services of its kind in the UK, particularly by geographical scale.

In 2023, Italian private public transport operator Autoguidovie and Via announced a new partnership to offer more flexible travel experiences to passengers with five new on-demand public transport services in the areas of Crema, Pavia, Stradella, and Varzi.

In July 2023, Via announced a partnership with Transport for London in the United Kingdom to use Via's software to transform the transport authority’s Dial-a-Ride service. Expected to launch in 2024, Transport for London plans to increase the quality of service and passenger experience and to expand Dial-a-Ride’s reach beyond the 30,000 passengers it already serves.

In November 2023, Via announced new partnerships with public transport companies in Germany to take over the operations of 10 on-demand public transport services formerly operated by CleverShuttle.

United States
In November 2017, Via partnered with the city of West Sacramento to deploy a fleet of Mercedes-Benz vans as on-demand public transportation. The City of West Sacramento has since expanded the service.

Also in November 2017, with a grant from the Federal Transit Administration, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority partnered with Via to provide on demand service to three metro stations.

In March 2018, Via partnered with the city of Arlington, Texas, to operate 10 on-demand vans as shuttles as replacements for buses. Taxpayers funded the partnership with $922,500 in its first year. The program continues today as Arlington's only government subsidized transportation service and has recently expanded into neighboring Tarrant County. The program is one of the first examples of on-demand autonomous vehicles being integrated with a city’s public transit system.

In June 2018, in partnership with Marin Transit, Via launched an on-demand shared shuttle service in Marin County in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In August 2018, Via partnered with Harvard University to use its technology for Harvard's evening van service for students, faculty, and staff.

In February 2019, Via partnered with the city of Lone Tree, Colorado, to provide pairing technology for Link on Demand, a Microtransit service.

In April 2019, Via launched service in King County Metro in partnership with Sound Transit and the City of Seattle, providing service to five Sound Transit Link light rail stations: Mount Baker, Columbia City, Othello, Rainier Beach, and Tukwila International Boulevard. In March 2023, King County Metro announced that Via would take over operations and software for all of the agency’s on-demand transit programs. More than 32 percent of Metro’s on-demand rides are taken by customers enrolled in reduced-fare programs.

In May 2019, Via and local public transit operator SamTrans launched SamTrans OnDemand in Pacifica, California.

Also in May 2019, Via announced a partnership with the Washington, D.C. Department of Public Works to offer rides to District employees.

On June 25, 2019, Via launched Pickup, an on-demand public transportation network, in Austin, Texas, in partnership with Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority. It replaced former MetroBus Route 470 in Manor, Texas, just outside of Austin. It was expanded in September 2019 to serve four other areas in Austin included in the MetroLink pilot program.

Also in June 2019, Via launched an on-demand network called Ride on Flex in partnership with the Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Transportation. The service was another deployment in the Washington, D.C., area, linking residents in Montgomery County to the Washington Metro.

In July 2019, Via launched its first on-demand service specifically designed for senior citizens who need rides to medical appointments, called Newton in Motion, or NewMo, in Newton, Massachusetts.

Also in July 2019, Via announced a partnership with Hampton Jitney to offer flat-rate Via airport transfers and discounted rides to Hampton Jitney stops in Manhattan.

Also in July 2019, Via launched COTA Plus, an on-demand public transportation deployment in Columbus, Ohio, in partnership with the Central Ohio Transit Authority.

Also in July 2019, Via announced ZIPZONE, an on-demand transit partnership in Fort Worth, Texas, its third partnership in Texas.

On August 5, 2019, Via launched "Rapid On Demand", a new paratransit network in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

On August 21, 2019, Via launched "Via for Schools", the first integrated, automated school bus routing, tracking, and communication platform in the world, after winning a contract with the New York City Department of Education, the largest school district in the United States. It gives parents and students the ability to track, in real-time, bus locations and receive notifications of service changes.

In September 2019, Via announced it was selected by Northeastern University to power "RedEye," its campus shuttle, making it one of the first universities in North America to integrate ride hailing technology into its campus shuttle system. Later that month, Via announced a new partnership with Northwestern University, making it the third major university to use Via's technology to develop on-demand student shuttles following Harvard and Northeastern University.

At the end of September 2019, Via announced new on-demand public transportation services in both Jersey City, New Jersey, and Birmingham, Alabama. Steven Fulop, the Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, based the need for this new service on a lack of funding from NJ Transit for existing services. The service in Birmingham launched in December, and Jersey City planned to begin operations in 2020.

In October 2019, the City of Cupertino, California, announced that it chose Via to develop a new on-demand public transportation system, providing more efficient connections to Caltrain and increasing access to public transit across the city. Cupertino, with a population of 60,000 residents, increases in population to approximately 150,000 people on weekdays as a result of a huge influx of commuters. Most of these commuters work for the city's largest employer Apple Inc., whose Apple Park campus has more than 11,000 parking spaces, with parking occupying more square footage than the building itself. In December 2023, Via Cupertino was awarded a $8.5 million California State Transportation Authority grant to expand into nearby Santa Clara and fully electrify its vehicle fleet.

In November 2019, Via partnered with the District of Columbia Mayor's Office for Veterans Affairs (MOVA) and the Department of For-Hire Vehicles (DFHV) to launch VetsRide, an on-demand shared ride program that provides veterans with access to free transportation to medical, educational, employment, and other opportunities.

In November 2019, Via partnered with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and announced a pilot program to launch LGA Connect, a flat-rate shared ride service from LaGuardia Airport to all five New York City boroughs. The deal was the first of Via's partnerships with airports to reduce private vehicle trips by offering congestion-reducing, convenient and affordable shared rides as part of public transit.

Later that month, Via launched UTA On-Demand in Utah in partnership with Utah Transit Authority (UTA), connecting residents in Salt Lake City including Bluffdale, Draper, Herriman, Riverton and South Jordan and enhances connectivity to TRAX and FrontRunner lines.

In January 2020, Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) in Norfolk, Virginia, awarded Via with a multi-year paratransit contract.

In August 2020, Green Bay Metro in Green Bay, Wisconsin, began using Via for its paratransit services.

In September 2020, Via partnered with The City of Wilson, North Carolina to launch RIDE, a city-wide on-demand transit solution designed to replace the city’s underperforming bus routes. The program has since won national awards and additional grants, including the American Association of State Highway Transportation Official's Innovation Initiative, which champions technologies that yield significant economic benefits to transit users.

In September 2020, Via launched in Westborough, Massachusetts, in partnership with the Worcester Regional Transit Authority.

In October 2020, Via partnered with the Miami-Dade Department of Public Works to launch GO Connect, an on-demand transit program designed to improve transit connections in the Miami suburbs of Dadeland, Kendall, and Cutler Bay. In November 2023, GO Connect rebranded to “Metro Connect” and doubled the coverage zone to serve more residents as part of Miami-Dade County’s “Better Bus Network” plan, and now serves 10 total areas.

In March 2021, Via partnered with Southeast Michigan-based transportation provider SMART to introduce the first on-demand transit program in the Detroit area, known as SMART Flex. In September 2023, the City of Dearborn announced its decision to subsidize the program to cost only $1, made possible thanks to grant awards.

In May 2021, Via helped Summit County, Utah launch an entire transit agency, High Valley Transit (HVT), which includes on-demand, fixed-route, and paratransit services.

In June 2021, Via launched SCT On Demand in Southampton and Sag Harbor on the South Fork of Long Island, Suffolk County, in partnership with Suffolk County Transit and Hampton Jitney to replace bus route 10A.

In April 2022, Via launched an all-electric vehicle on-demand public transport service in Richmond, California. Via helped fill transportation gaps in inner-city Richmond, introducing an electric vehicle fleet so riders could get around and connect to other public transit such as the BART light rail, Amtrak, and the boat ferry service that connects Richmond to San Francisco.

In July 2022, Via launched an on-demand public transport service in Newport News and Virginia Beach.

In December 2022, Via launched Glendale OnBoard, a service in Glendale, Arizona.

In April 2024, Via expanded the SCT On Demand network with the new East Hampton/Montauk On Demand Zone that replaced bus routes 10B and 10C, initially supposed to launch in October 2023 but was delayed due to a vehicle recall. The new zone is operated under contract by Hampton Jitney Under Suffolk County Transit.

Canada
At the end of August 2019, Via announced a partnership with the city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, marking the company's second deployment in Canada and first in Ontario. The service "Sault Ste. Marie On-Demand" launched in September 2019 and utilizes the city's existing bus fleet.

In 2020, Via partnered with Niagara Regional Transit to introduce NRT On Demand. At its three-year mark in September 2023, the service had provided more than 241,000 rides, with a survey showing that 70 percent of passengers use NRT On Demand most of the time or sometimes to connect with the region’s other forms of public transit.

In 2021, Via partnered with the City of Edmonton to launch the Edmonton On-Demand Transit, the largest on-demand public transit service in Canada. The service is available in 37 neighborhoods and for 16 seniors residences more than 600 meters away from the nearest bus stop, filling gaps in Edmonton’s existing bus network.

Australia and New Zealand
Also in November 2017, Via launched Savy, an app using its on-demand ride-sharing technology and a fleet of vehicles owned by the company, in Queenstown, New Zealand.

In January 2018, the company partnered with Keolis Downer to launch The Newcastle Transport On Demand App in Australia using Via's on-demand shared rides as part of Newcastle Transport's bus and ferry network. In March 2018, the partnership, called Keoride, expanded to include Macquarie Park, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney. In October 2019, the service zone expanded again to give inner-city residents a new option to reach key central business district locations, and to connect with other modes of transport such as the Newcastle Interchange, light rail, existing bus services and Broadmeadow railway station.

In November 2018, Via launched AT Local, an all-electric vehicle service to transport passengers to/from the Devonport, Bayswater and Stanley Bay ferry terminals in partnership with Auckland Transport and Go Bus.

In May 2019, Via partnered with Australia’s Transport for New South Wales and Busways to launch Cooee Busways, an on-demand transport program for residents of the western Sydney suburbs. The program reached half a million passengers in November 2023.

In June 2019, Via expanded in Australia by launching "Cooee" in The Ponds and Schofields, two suburbs of Sydney to connect people to the Sydney Metro. In September 2019, the company reported residents took more than 20,000 rides on the Cooee service in less than three months, saving more than 21,000 vehicle kilometers by sharing a ride compared to driving a private vehicle, and saving nearly five metric tons of vehicle emissions. Cooee was also Australia's first demand-responsive transportation provider to fully integrate with Opal Connect, a new account-based ticketing system by Transport for NSW.

In November 2019, New Zealand’s Canterbury Regional Council announced its partnership with Via to launch MyWay by Metro, an on-demand transport program in Timaru. As of May 2023, Canterbury Regional Council reported strong growth and increasing demand for the program.

At the end of November 2019, Via and Environment Canterbury announced a partnership to overhaul public transportation in Timaru, New Zealand, replacing fixed-route transportation with on-demand, dynamically routed transit starting in early 2020.

Asia
In February 2018, Singapore's Land Transport Authority awarded a contract to Via in collaboration with the Ministry of Movement to run a trial of on-demand buses. The six-month trial called BusGo launched in December 2018, receiving positive public response.

In July 2018, Via partnered with Mori Building Company to launch HillsVia, an on-demand shared transportation network for the company's employees in Tokyo. The service was Via's first venture in Japan, and first corporate shuttle network. In September 2019, Via announced BlueVia, an on-demand shuttle network in cooperation with Nihon Kotsu, one of the largest taxi and limousine operators in Japan. BlueVia allows Itochu employees in Tokyo to hail a ride on-demand during their daily commutes and between meetings.

In April 2019, Via and Digiasia Bios launched TRON, an on-demand transit network in Bekasi, Indonesia. Teknologi Rancang Olah Nusantara, the service aimed to reinvigorate declining use of Angkot in Indonesia.

Also in April 2019, Itochu announced an investment in Via’s Japanese subsidiary.

Also in April 2019, Via launched bubble, its on-demand service in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, and Givatayim, Israel in partnership with public transit operator Dan Bus Company.

In September 2019, Via Japan announced BlueVia in Tokyo. The on-demand shuttle network is in cooperation with Nihon Kotsu, one of the largest taxi and limousine operators in Japan. BlueVia allows Itochu employees to hail a ride on-demand during their daily commutes and between meetings.

In March 2020, Via launched a service in Dubai in partnership with United Trans and the Roads and Transport Authority (Dubai).

South America
In February 2019, Via announced the first deployment of its technology in South America, deploying CityBus 2.0 in Goiânia, Brazil in partnership with local public transit operator HP Transportes Coletivos. The CityBus 2.0 was the first on-demand shuttle system operated by a public transit operator in Latin America. In July 2019, CityBus 2.0 expanded to 13 new neighborhoods in Goiânia.

In December 2019, Via partnered with Brazilian transit operator Sindiônibus to launch TopBus+ in Fortaleza, making it Via's second on-demand public transportation network in Brazil.

Autonomous vehicle technology
In January 2019, at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Via debuted its autonomous vehicle technology alongside Aurrigo, Comet Mobility and an AI technology provider. Via's autonomous technology is strongly influenced by the company's history in ridesharing, with multiple passengers using a self-driven vehicle. The demonstration worked by booking a PodZero using the Via app. Via's autonomous vehicle technology can book and route the autonomous vehicles on-demand, provide customers with a vehicle location and ETA, and use its Augmented Reality (AR) functionality for easy identification.

On July 11, 2019, Via announced BusBot, its first public autonomous vehicle deployment. The driverless vehicle began serving residents at an Australian retirement community in Toormina, a suburb of Coffs Harbour. Via partnered with local bus operator Busways, Transport for NSW, and technology provider EasyMile to operate BusBot. The deployment marks the second phase of BusBot's pilot program, with plans to operate in the community for 22 weeks, giving Via and its partners time to test increasingly advanced AV elements.

Via partnered with local bus operator Busways, Transport for NSW, and technology provider EasyMile to operate BusBot. The deployment marks the second phase of BusBot's pilot program, with plans to operate in the community for 22 weeks, giving Via and its partners time to test increasingly advanced AV elements.

In October 2019, Via unveiled BotRide, a shared, on-demand, autonomous vehicle service operating on public roads. BotRide launched in partnership with Hyundai Motor Company and Chinese autonomous startup Pony.ai. The free pilot project began service on November 4, 2019, in Irvine, California, with a fleet of self-driving Hyundai Kona Electric SUVs, hailed and directed using the Via-powered BotRide mobile application.

In November 2020, in partnership with Via, Arriva UK Bus launched ArrivaClick, an on-demand public transport mobile app, in Kent.

In 2021, Via partnered with May Mobility to launch autonomous vehicle services in three cities. In August 2021, it launched RAPID, an autonomous vehicle public transportation deployment in Arlington, Texas, covering Downtown Arlington and the University of Texas at Arlington campus. Via and May Mobility launched similar services in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in August and Ann Arbor, Michigan, in October. In September 2022, Via and May Mobility launched a wheelchair-accessible autonomous shuttle service in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

In February 2022, it launched a free robotaxi service in Las Vegas in partnership with Motional.

Acquisitions
In October 2020, Via acquired Fleetonomy, an Israeli startup and logistics company, to accelerate its entry into the last-mile deliveries industry. Via Logistics specializes in last-mile deliveries including route planning, managing a fleet, and dispatching drivers and packages to customers.

In March 2021, Via acquired Remix, a transportation planning platform, for $100 million to create the first end-to-end Transit Tech platform for cities and transit agencies. Remix is a collaborative mapping platform for transportation service planners, allowing users to visualize transit data, and analyze community and cost impacts of new designs to assess tradeoffs of service planning decisions. The software can highlight the disproportionate impact of transportation projects. In November 2021, Via announced On-demand Planning within the Remix platform.

In March 2023, Via acquired Citymapper. Via plans to integrate Citymapper into its TransitTech platform, enabling the company to connect all elements of a transport system and to offer a unified solution and journey planning experience. Via also plans to extend Citymapper’s capabilities to cities and transit agencies all over the world.

Financing
In May 2016, the company raised $100 million in Series C financing.

In November 2021, Via raised $130 million in a Series G round of financing at a $3.3 billion valuation. Investors included Janus Henderson, BlackRock, ION, and Koch Disruptive Technologies.

In February 2023, the company raised $110 million at a $3.5 billion valuation. Investors included 83North, Exor N.V., Pitango, Janus Henderson, CF Private Equity, Planven Entrepreneur Ventures, Riverpark Ventures, and ION Crossover Partners.