What`s new in the taxi world? Our bilingual ‘update’ summarises the international news of the last days and hours. As some of the links are in foreign languages, we recommend using a website translator.
International News
Hamburg’s good reputation: Hansa Funk has positioned itself as the radio circuit for the residents of Hamburg.
https://taxi-times.com/en/hamburgs-hansa-radio-circuit-highlights-its-good-reputation/
Quote of the day
“As established radio circuits, we are faced with growing competition from national and international groups that dispatch taxis in an impersonal way, exclusively via app. This is why we have to reinforce our presence among the local Hamburg residents.”
Dirk Schütte, CEO of Hansa Funk, during the launch of a new Slogan ‘Hamburg’s good reputation’
International News
Uber accused of lax safety practices: A woman who says she was sexually assaulted by an Uber driver last month in New Delhi has filed a lawsuit against the company.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/29/uber-accused-of-lax-safety-practices-by-delhi-woman/?_r=1
$500 million for Chinese Taxi-App: The taxi-booking service „Hangzhou Kuaidi Technology“ has raised more than $500 million in China. Kuaidi competes with Uber Technologies and Didi Taxi.
Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/alibaba-backed-taxi-app-to-raise-500-million/articleshow/45976529.cms
London’s first electric taxi cabs rolled out: It looks like a typical London-Taxi. Inside there is seating for up to seven passengers, complete with a USB charging socket, panoramic glass roof and colour TV displays.
A Tesla taxi is now also operating in Finland for the first time, A Finnish first in the city of Turku.
http://yle.fi/uutiset/tesla_taxi_tantalises_in_turku/7764458
News from Germany
An app for the 50/50 taxi: In the Ostalbkreis district in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg, 50/50 taxis can be hailed by app as of 2016. Paper vouchers have been used until now. It is a sensible move, since the half-price taxi fare applies to youths up to 25 years – a generation that has grown up with apps.
http://www.schwaebische-post.de/785669
Taking stock: Numbers are tight for a taxi company with 34 vehicles in a district where the rates have been raised by 30 per cent.
http://www.derwesten.de/staedte/heiligenhaus/taxi-chef-spitzt-den-bleistift-id10279266.html
News from Schwitzerland
Swiss vignette price hike: The annual motorway vignette will cost €40 as of 1 February, due to the decoupling of the Swiss franc from the euro.
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/schweiz-vignette-wird-teurer-5567080.html
