Latest news with #UberTaxi
Mint
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Mint
Uber Warns Hong Kong Drivers and Riders of Possible New Curbs
(Bloomberg) -- Uber Technologies Inc. is emailing Hong Kong users to raise concerns about rules the city is formulating, warning the government could cap the number of drivers or vehicles allowed on the platform. The San Francisco-based company said any such limit would reduce opportunities for drivers to earn money and could lead to more cancellations and longer wait times, according to the emails, which are being sent to 30,000 Uber drivers and 1.5 million people in the city who have used the service in the last year. Hong Kong is expected to release new ride-hailing regulations in the coming months after last year outlining long-awaited but ambiguous plans to regulate the industry. Those plans included imposing licenses on platforms and adopting tougher penalties for rule breaking. The Hong Kong government didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Uber has become a popular alternative to the city's local taxi services, which have for years drawn the ire of residents and tourists alike. The company launched in Hong Kong in 2014 and seven years later acquired the HKTaxi app, a widely used platform for hiring cabs. Uber offers traditional ride-hailing and services such as Uber Taxi, which allows users to book local taxis through the firm's own app. Hong Kong taxi drivers in 2023 threatened to go on strike to protest the government's unwillingness to regulate ride-hailing services. Uber's presence has made it a target of Hong Kong's taxi industry, which says Uber deprives it of revenue each day and creates unfair competition. In March, Uber suggested regulatory measures such as ensuring platforms be licensed and have safety measures and insurance in place, and that drivers be licensed and pass background checks. Uber's general manager for Hong Kong, Estyn Chung, said people in the city value ride-sharing. 'We hope the government is considering a regulatory framework that prioritizes safety, meets the needs of riders and drivers, and enables ride-sharing and taxis to grow side by side,' he said. In the US, Uber and rival Lyft Inc. have sent emails and used their apps to communicate with drivers and riders about proposed rules in various states and cities. Meanwhile, Uber may soon face increased competition in the city from China's Didi Global Inc., which has been quietly recruiting new drivers in Hong Kong as it looks to grow outside of the mainland. --With assistance from Natalie Lung. More stories like this are available on
Business Times
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Times
Uber warns Hong Kong drivers and riders of possible new curbs
[HONG KONG] Uber Technologies is e-mailing Hong Kong users to raise concerns about rules the city is formulating, warning the government could cap the number of drivers or vehicles allowed on the platform. The San Francisco-based company said any such limit would reduce opportunities for drivers to earn money and could lead to more cancellations and longer wait times, according to the e-mails, which are being sent to 30,000 Uber drivers and 1.5 million people in the city who have used the service in the last year. Hong Kong is expected to release new ride-hailing regulations in the coming months after last year outlining long-awaited but ambiguous plans to regulate the industry. Those plans included imposing licenses on platforms and adopting tougher penalties for rule breaking. The Hong Kong government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Uber has become a popular alternative to the city's local taxi services, which have for years drawn the ire of residents and tourists alike. The company launched in Hong Kong in 2014 and seven years later acquired the HKTaxi app, a widely used platform for hiring cabs. Uber offers traditional ride-hailing and services such as Uber Taxi, which allows users to book local taxis through the firm's own app. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Hong Kong taxi drivers in 2023 threatened to go on strike to protest the government's unwillingness to regulate ride-hailing services. Uber's presence has made it a target of Hong Kong's taxi industry, which says Uber deprives it of revenue each day and creates unfair competition. In March, Uber suggested regulatory measures such as ensuring platforms be licensed and have safety measures and insurance in place, and that drivers be licensed and pass background checks. Uber's general manager for Hong Kong, Estyn Chung, said people in the city value ride-sharing. 'We hope the government is considering a regulatory framework that prioritises safety, meets the needs of riders and drivers, and enables ride-sharing and taxis to grow side by side,' he said. In the US, Uber and rival Lyft have sent e-mails and used their apps to communicate with drivers and riders about proposed rules in various states and cities. Meanwhile, Uber may soon face increased competition in the city from China's Didi Global, which has been quietly recruiting new drivers in Hong Kong as it looks to grow outside of the mainland. BLOOMBERG
Business Times
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Business Times
China's Didi recruits ride-hailing drivers in Hong Kong push
[HONG KONG] China's Didi Global is quietly recruiting new drivers in Hong Kong as it looks to grow outside of mainland China. The move sets the Chinese ride-hailing pioneer up for close competition with Uber Technologies in a financial hub where regulations governing the sector are still in flux, providing a window for rivals to win market share. Didi has been offering limited taxi services in Hong Kong for some time, but lacks a ride-share option. An advertisement viewed by Bloomberg News invites prospective ride-share drivers to scan a QR code and download an app called KayGo Driver. KayGo is recruiting drivers for Didi, according to a person familiar with the matter. KayGo's drivers will gradually start providing their service to Didi users in Hong Kong, the person said. A Google Play store listing for KayGo features a black and white cartoon gorilla. The description says the app is an 'order-taking platform specially created for drivers.' The listing includes a link to a KayGo website for drivers, which in turn contains links to Didi's own site. The app's developer is listed as Kaygo Ltd., carrying a Singapore address but a Hong Kong phone number. The app, updated last week, has been downloaded more than 100 times from the Google Play store. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Didi did not respond to a request for comment. Calls to the phone number listed for KayGo were not answered. The company did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment. Didi, known as China's answer to Uber, has been expanding internationally in recent years. It aims to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange, though the timeline remains unclear. Didi is among a group of Chinese tech companies including Meituan that are chasing growth overseas as they are faced with prolonged economic uncertainties at home. Hong Kong last year unveiled long-anticipated but vague plans to regulate ride-hailing services including Uber in a city infamous for the low quality of its local taxi services. Officials have said more details on a proposed plan should be released this year. Uber launched in Hong Kong in 2014 and seven years later acquired the HKTaxi app, a popular platform used to hire cabs. Uber also offers Uber Taxi, which allows taxi bookings through the firm's own app. Hong Kong taxi drivers in 2023 threatened to go on strike to protest the government's unwillingness to regulate ride-hailing services. Uber's presence has made it a target of Hong Kong's taxi industry, which says Uber deprives it of revenue each day and creates unfair competition. Uber has said it welcomes the government's plan to regulate ride-hailing platforms. BLOOMBERG
