Ali Vahabzadeh, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ford’s Chariot shuttle service, has decided to step down and “move on to [his] next adventure as an entrepreneur,” he wrote in a blog post on Chariot’s website two weeks ago. Ford’s Global Vice President of Microtransit, Dan Grossman, will serve as interim CEO, while Vahabzadeh remains on Chariot’s board of directors.
Ali Vahabzadeh co-founded Chariot in San Francisco in 2014, staying on as CEO after the crowd-sourced shuttle service was acquired by Ford Motor Company in 2016. Since its acquisition, Chariot has expanded into a number of new markets, setting up shop in Austin, Columbus, New York, and Seattle in the US, most recently moving into London, England, kicking off its international expansion. The service uses a smartphone app to arrange pickup and dropoff for commuters, using algorithms to adapt to customer routes, shuttle demand, and traffic conditions in real time.
In January, Ford announced a “major shift in focus” for Chariot that will see the service concentrating harder on providing transportation for employees on the behalf of companies.
“We thank Ali for his passion and dedication to building Chariot into the growing mobility business it is today,” Ford President of Mobility Marcy Klevorn said in a statement this week. “We are glad he will continue to serve Chariot as a director on the Chariot board, and all wish him well in his next adventure.”
(Source: Automotive News)
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