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
Noteworthy analysis: The German news magazine Spiegel shines a light on the social policy and mindset of the new start-up stars from Silicon Valley. It would of course not be complete without a critical analysis of Kalanick, the CEO of Uber.
https://magazin.spiegel.de/digital/index_SP.html#SP/2015/10/132040357
Banned right after launch: The taxi app ‘Everyone’s Uber’ was forbidden in Japan.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/04/us-uber-japan-idUSKBN0LZ1PI20150304
New taxi app regulations in China: The Chinese Ministry of Transport has finished evaluating opinions on regulating private drivers. It now announces regulations on using mobile apps to book private cars within the first half of 2015.
Taxi driver stabs passenger: A Moscow taxi driver reached for a knife after an argument with an Austrian passenger.
http://www.thelocal.at/20150305/austrian-stabbed-in-moscow-over-14-taxi-fare
Quote of the day
“Some drivers still think it’s strange.”
Stefan Böhm of the Darmstadt radio circuit explains why services that should be provided as a matter of course, such as ‘opening the door’ and ‘loading the boot’, are part of a new training concept.
http://www.fr-online.de/darmstadt/taxi-benimmkurs-fuer-taxifahrer,1472858,30078088.html
Automobile news
From taxi to mass production: The conversion to an electric vehicle was originally intended mainly for taxi customers, but a Turkish company has now announced an agreement with three countries for the mass production of their electric vehicles.
News from Germany
First court decision on minimum wage: An industrial tribunal in Berlin has ruled over a claim for holiday pay and a special annual payment.
http://www.berlin.de/gerichte/arbeitsgericht/presse/archiv/20150305.0825.401310.html
Hamburg’s mayor visited radio-circuit: The Mayor of Hamburg, Olaf Scholz, visited the local radio-circuit Hansa-Funk and took the time to inform himself about specific ‘taxi-questions’ put to him by the board-members.
https://taxi-times.com/hamburger-buergermeister-besucht-taxizentrale/
Serial offenders at 14? The police apprehended two 14-year-olds following an attack on a taxi driver. Have they also committed other crimes?
News from Switzerland
Uber permitted to continue in Geneva: The Geneva court has rejected a precautionary ban on the ridesharing service Uber. A request submitted by the taxi trade in Geneva was not granted.
Our last words
Bad press from the Free Press: The newspaper ‘Freie Presse’ in Saxony has badmouthed the taxi trade two times within a few days. Hopefully the newspaper will spare us a third report. There must be more exciting news in Saxony than taxis parking too close to pedestrian crossings…
