What`s new in the taxi world? Our bilingual ‘Update’ summarizes the news of the last days and hours. We recommend using a website-translator because some links can be in foreign languages.
Message of the day
Ban for Uber-Pop in The Netherlands: On December 8 the Dutch government won the appeal Uber had lodged against the decision of the government’s Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) to fine four UberPOP-drivers in Amsterdam € 1.500 each for working without a permit
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/08/us-uber-netherlands-idUSKBN0JM0XJ20141208
Uber Stop instead of UberPOP in Spain: On Tuesday, the court in Madrid granted an injunction. The request was made by an association of Taxi-Owners.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30395093
Uber-bans in Oslo and Copenhagen: UberPop is illegal. This was as well the appraisal of the licensing authorities in Oslo and Copenhagen, shortly after Uber offered their service there.
http://e24.no/privat/oslo-kommune-politianmelder-uber/23346890
http://www.thelocal.dk/20141119/ubers-danish-launch-greeted-by-police-complaint
Uber bans in USA: Portland and Boston ban Uber.
http://www.gulli.com/news/25316-uber-weitere-verbote-neue-klagen-trotzdem-expansion-2014-12-09
http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2025196504_ubersuedxml.html
http://www.cnet.com/news/uber-boston-promises-to-fight-cease-and-desist-order/
Safety concerns in India: The alleged rape of a woman by an Uber-Driver caused the Indian government to ban „all Taxi-Services provided over the Internet”.
http://www.nzz.ch/panorama/delhi-verbietet-nach-vergewaltigung-uber-taxis-1.18441071
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-30390691
Bans in other Asian countries: Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam also see violations against existing applicable laws.
http://de.reuters.com/article/companiesNews/idDEKBN0JN16H20141209
Quotes of the day
„Uber should follow the democratic path, instead of deliberately breaking the law to get a modification of the law.“
IRU taxi president and chairmen of the taxi association KNV taxi
„They think they can just come in here and flagrantly violate the law. Apparently, they believe they’re gods.“
Staff of the Portland Bureau of Transportation.Portland, USA
Competition
Investors still believe in Uber: The bans in many countries and cities, several rape cases and even spy allegations against journalists and customers, seem not to deter investors. Uber collected the next billion. The names of the new investors will not be made public this time. Seemingly it is no longer so „en vogue“, to be called an Uber-Investor publicly.
http://venturebeat.com/2014/12/04/uber-raises-an-additional-1-2-billion-to-fund-asia-expansion/
Cars
Lexus-Hybrid GS an entirely official Taxi now: After the introduction of the prototype on the European Taxi Fair in the beginning of November, Intax now finished the development of the Taxi equipment for the German market. Thus the GS Taxi can now be ordered from each Lexus-dealer.
