Level playing field 'essential for future competitive taxi innovation'

Innovation in Europe’s taxi industry and recent challenges faced from so called ride-sharing apps highlighted to newly elected MEPs, Belgian politicians and industry stakeholders by IRU, which welcomes new technologies, but stresses that fair competition and clear regulations are essential.

Presenting innovation in Europe’s taxi industry and recent challenges faced from so called ride-sharing apps to newly elected MEPs at a reception last week, the International Road Transport Union (IRU) highlighted that new technologies are indeed welcome, but stressed that fair competition and clear regulations are essential.

IRU Head of Passenger Transport Oleg Kamberski said: “Customers clearly want smartphone taxi services and we welcome this innovation and use of new technology by the legitimate taxi industry. However, political leaders and decision-makers must ensure that regulations guaranteeing safety, security and high-quality taxi services for customers are respected. We welcome fair competition, but fairness should not mean allowing some market players to do as they wish, while subjecting others to strict rules at the same time.”

Vice President of the European Parliament Olli Rehn said: “Politicians need to make sure that the rules are clear for all. The taxi industry has the keys to its future in its pocket. On behalf of the European Parliament, let us work together for cleaner, greener, more comfortable taxi services in Europe.”

The taxi industry further called for a level playing field and for all market operators to play by the same rules and raised some safety, insurance and tax avoidance concerns relating to so called ride-sharing apps, to various European political representatives, notably the newly-appointed Brussels Capital Region Minister for Transport, Pascal Smet.

Smet said: “We must ensure that vehicles are insured, technically safe, that the driver is physically and mentally fit and that customers do not pay too much. This has resulted in ‘big’ regulation. I would like to reduce regulation and still meet the same objectives. I’m in favour of car-sharing, but under certain conditions. It should not compete with traditional taxis.”

In a follow-up workshop, taxi group members and industry stakeholders also agreed that safe, secure and customer-friendly solutions are necessary, in order to meet the challenges posed by illegal ride-sharing apps. In this regard, development work for new high-tech services was continued and it was highlighted that a public launch of new smartphone-based services will take place later this year at the European Taxi Messe in Cologne, Germany, from 7-8 November.

See the programme for the 6th IRU International Taxi Forum.

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