Taiwan – Uber launches new taxi service (Taipei Times)

By memberservices@staffingindustry.com (Danny Romero)

Ride-sharing service Uber, which is illegal in Taiwan, and the Taxi Driver Labor Union of the Republic of China, have announced plans to jointly launch a new service called UberTAXI next month, reports the Taipei Times. Uber said that people could call a cab by using the Uber app and would be charged based on standard rates set by taxis operating in Taipei. However, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said that Uber would remain an illegal service provider and would be ordered to cease operations if it continues to hire drivers who do not hold a license to operate commercial vehicles.

“The introduction of UberTAXI shows that a sharing economy and taxis can coexist in Taiwan’s healthy, vibrant and diversified market, which benefits both drivers and passengers,” Uber Taiwan general manager Ku Li-kai said. “The partnership [with the union] demonstrates Uber’s commitment to the Taiwanese market. We will continue our negotiations with government agencies and hope that the government would draft appropriate laws to regulate ride-sharing services.”

Source:: Taiwan – Uber launches new taxi service (Taipei Times)