The legendary Black Cab, the taxis that crisscross London, are entering the digital age. These will be available on the Uber application from 2024.
In New York, Uber is doing everything to electrify its fleet as much as possible; in London, a completely different music is played. The company has judiciously maneuvered so that the city’s famous taxis, the Black Cab, are integrated into their application. The initiative is planned for the beginning of 2024, which will allow the 15,000 drivers of these machines to register to receive rides via Uber. A strategic movement taking place in a context where Uber is concluding agreements almost everywhere on the planet: Paris, Rome, Los Angeles or New York.
A contested collaboration
This project undertaken by Uber is not welcomed with open arms by everyone. Indeed, the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) is not particularly convinced. The 10,000 drivers who make up the association have reservations about the benefit of the initiative. General Secretary Steve McNamara explains: “ there is no demand for this collaboration, either from licensed London taxi drivers or their passengers “.
To support his arguments, he specifies that other applications such as Taxiapp, FreeNow, ComCab or Gett are already available to use Black Cab. McNamara does not hide his position regarding the American multinational: “ We do not wish to tarnish the iconic and globally recognized reputation of London taxis by associating them with Uber, its poor safety record and all that comes with it “. This is an opinion that could not be clearer.
Uber and taxis, an evolving relationship
For a long time, Uber has been at war with the taxi industry in various places around the world. While the company’s initial desire was certainly to completely replace traditional taxi services, this failed. The firm therefore adapted its strategy by including taxis in its services to stimulate its growth. With the ambition to integrate all the taxis in the world (no less) into its application by 2025, we can say that Uber is thinking big.
It has already managed to do this in 33 countries, and a recent agreement with the city of New York allowed it to get its hands on the 14,000 Yellow Cabs in the Big Apple. For each ride booked, a commission is charged by Uber. A particularity that it does not however want to put in place during the first six months of London taxis. Despite the reluctance of some professionals, Uber continues to gain ground in the world of urban transport. No longer by opposing taxis, but by aggregating them. More subtle, but just as profitable.
Source : The Verge
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