https://www.scmp.com/rss/320381/feed Founded in 2009, Uber is a taxi-and-car-hailing app which operates in more than 449 cities and 66 countries. While its popularity has helped it grow to a multi-billion dollar valuation, it has faced pushback from authorities and protests from taxi drivers in multiple markets. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ann Cao Ann Cao Chinese ride-hailing company CaoCao, backed by Geely, is betting on a heavy-asset strategy to emerge as a leading robotaxi operator, with plans to deploy 100,000 autonomous vehicles by 2030 as competition intensifies and self-driving technology matures. In an interview with the South China Morning Post, CEO Gong Xin said the future of robotaxis hinged on an asset-management model built around a closed-loop “trinity” of vehicle manufacturing, autonomous driving technology and fleet... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348985/hong-kong-listed-caocao-hails-fleet-first-strategy-chinas-robotaxi-race-gathers-pace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348985/hong-kong-listed-caocao-hails-fleet-first-strategy-chinas-robotaxi-race-gathers-pace?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 07:00:09 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese self-driving technology firm Pony AI plans to launch robotaxi services with partners Uber Technologies and Verne in Zagreb, Croatia, spearheading commercialisation of autonomous cabs in Europe amid an accelerated go-global drive. The three companies aimed to operate a fleet of thousands of robotaxis in various European cities over the next few years after achieving consistent performance and safety, Guangzhou-based Pony said on Thursday. Neither the starting date for the service nor the... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348026/chinas-pony-ai-launch-robotaxi-service-europe-uber-local-start?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348026/chinas-pony-ai-launch-robotaxi-service-europe-uber-local-start?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:31:20 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow WeRide, one of China’s big three robotaxi companies, has cut research and development (R&D) costs by “millions” of US dollars by using artificial intelligence to train its fleet in virtual worlds, its CEO said. While rivals had also developed AI models simulating the physical world, WeRide’s efforts stood out as it was using its world model Genesis to support its global expansion strategy, said Tony Han. “It’s the first real marriage between physical AI and generative AI,” Han told the South... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344817/breakthrough-or-hype-how-weride-aims-steer-past-rivals-crowded-robotaxi-field?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344817/breakthrough-or-hype-how-weride-aims-steer-past-rivals-crowded-robotaxi-field?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 02:00:38 +0000 Martin W H Wong Martin W H Wong Uber is set to outdo itself on Hong Kong taxi drivers’ meter (of hate) – it is reportedly planning to launch its robotaxi services in Hong Kong by the end of 2026. On the tech side, this is nothing short of a miracle. The Uber robotaxi features Level 4 autonomous driving, deploying real-time AI processing of situational data fed by a comprehensive 360-degree sensor array combining high-resolution cameras, solid-state lidar and radar. The human brain, at least when it comes to driving, is no... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343910/uber-robotaxi-uber-sophisticated-tech-and-uber-complicated-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343910/uber-robotaxi-uber-sophisticated-tech-and-uber-complicated-law?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 01:30:14 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Hong Kong pickleball has started the year on a high, with the city’s top player Ryan Lam Chun-hei becoming No 1 in the World Pickleball Championship’s first combined rankings for 2026. Second in the men’s singles category behind Hungary’s Bako Balint Gergo, the 29-year-old is third in the men’s doubles and second in the mixed men’s categories. Lam, who topped the combined list in the men’s 19-plus category in January with 51,100 points, called his achievement “just the beginning”. “Pickleball... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3343340/shot-arm-hong-kong-pickleball-city-player-ryan-lam-tops-global-rankings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3343340/shot-arm-hong-kong-pickleball-city-player-ryan-lam-tops-global-rankings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:29 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Travellers in Hong Kong can now book door-to-door limousine rides to Macau through Uber, with analysts expecting the new service – which costs up to HK$3,500 (US$448) per trip – to appeal beyond well-heeled customers. Analysts said the new service could find favour with business travellers as well as fans travelling in small groups to attend major events such as concerts in the casino hub. As cross-border travel would require permits, the service is exclusively operated by veteran transport... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3342283/high-rollers-offered-limousine-trips-hk3500-uber-drives-macau?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3342283/high-rollers-offered-limousine-trips-hk3500-uber-drives-macau?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:30:37 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Uber Technologies is rolling out its ride-hailing service in the Chinese gambling hub of Macau, expanding into a new Asian market for the first time in years. Riders from Tuesday would be able to book and pay for taxis in the city using multiple languages, the US-based company said in a statement. It would also offer a limousine service between Macau and neighbouring Hong Kong, though trips had to be booked 24 hours in advance, it said. The move marks Uber’s first new entry to an Asian market... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3342212/uber-enters-first-asian-market-years-macau-relaunch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3342212/uber-enters-first-asian-market-years-macau-relaunch?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 07:29:15 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A former People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldier has been sentenced to eight months in prison for illegally carrying passengers in his Tesla Model S luxury car using a ride-hailing platform while in Hong Kong as a tourist. Fanling Court on Monday heard that Zeng Yulin, 39, travelled to Hong Kong from Shenzhen between June and August last year to offer paid rides using online mapping service Amap, earning more than HK$73,000 (US$9,400) in two months. He told Acting Principal Magistrate Veronica... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341221/ex-pla-soldier-jailed-8-months-offering-illegal-ride-hailing-trips-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341221/ex-pla-soldier-jailed-8-months-offering-illegal-ride-hailing-trips-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 05:35:21 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Uber Technologies’ strategic partnership with Tencent Holdings’ super app WeChat is yielding significant dividends for the ride-hailing operator as it meets a critical demand for Chinese travellers overseas. Since Uber launched a mini-program on WeChat in July, travellers from the mainland have been actively using Uber’s services via the new channel in 20 markets, said Anthony Wong, who leads Uber’s partnership with Tencent, on Thursday. While the ride-hailing service provider operates in 70... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3340037/ubers-wechat-tie-pays-demand-chinese-tourists-rises-overseas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3340037/ubers-wechat-tie-pays-demand-chinese-tourists-rises-overseas?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:12 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng When hailing a car on Uber, riders usually choose between economy and premium options. But in certain areas in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, the first choice that flashes on the screen is “autonomous”. The availability of driverless cars underscores the urgency of the nation’s push to promote clean energy and reduce dependence on oil and gas. At the forefront of this effort are Chinese robotaxi developers, which see the Middle East as one of their starting points for global... https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/ai/article/3337979/how-chinese-robotaxi-giants-are-steering-middle-east-towards-driverless-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/ai/article/3337979/how-chinese-robotaxi-giants-are-steering-middle-east-towards-driverless-future?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 03:00:11 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese tech giant Baidu is teaming up with US ride-hailing platforms Uber and Lyft to roll out robotaxi trials in London next year, highlighting the accelerated push among Chinese autonomous driving firms to expand globally. Baidu and Uber said they would begin pilot runs of robotaxi services in the British capital starting from the first half of next year, according to their respective social media announcements on Monday. In a separate post published on X the same day, Lyft chief executive... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3337350/baidu-teams-uber-lyft-london-robotaxi-launch-first-half-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3337350/baidu-teams-uber-lyft-london-robotaxi-launch-first-half-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Dec 2025 14:00:10 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong The quota for Hong Kong’s ride-hailing vehicles to be set by authorities should reflect Uber’s operating situation in the city, the firm’s CEO has urged, adding that the company’s focus on safety will help it stand out among competitors. Dara Khosrowshahi, speaking to the media on Friday during a visit to Hong Kong, said the company “wouldn’t necessarily object” to a levy on ride-hailing trips to support the taxi trade similar to the system used in some parts of Australia, but the firm’s final... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3336176/hong-kong-ride-hailing-car-quota-should-reflect-ubers-operating-reality-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3336176/hong-kong-ride-hailing-car-quota-should-reflect-ubers-operating-reality-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 05:32:56 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Uber has urged the Hong Kong government to adopt a “flexible” quota regime that will allow more drivers to work for ride-hailing platforms if service quality indicators, such as waiting times, are not met. Nicole Lee Tsz-yu, Uber Hong Kong’s head of public policy and government affairs, said on Friday that the government should consider a quota system that would allow for more drivers to be licensed in accordance with market demand to avoid residents having to wait longer or pay more for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3332878/uber-urges-hong-kong-adopt-flexible-driver-quota-based-service-metrics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3332878/uber-urges-hong-kong-adopt-flexible-driver-quota-based-service-metrics?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 13:50:59 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Global technology leaders will pack Lisbon’s annual Web Summit from Tuesday to talk about artificial intelligence, robots and start-ups – all under the shadow of tensions over cutting-edge tech and the natural resources needed to build it. Over four days, the “Davos for geeks” is set to welcome more than 70,000 visitors including 2,500 start-ups and 1,000 investors, according to organisers. Tech leaders gathered at Monday’s opening night, starring Swedish start-up founder Anton Osika, whose... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3332322/western-tech-dominance-fading-web-summit-ceo-says-davos-geeks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3332322/western-tech-dominance-fading-web-summit-ceo-says-davos-geeks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 07:53:45 +0000 Ken Ip Ken Ip Recently a video went viral of a plain clothes Hong Kong police officer aboard a minibus counting how many passengers had not fastened their seat belts. The police said summons would be issued to commuters who had been found to be not wearing seat belts. Social media lit up with surprise, amusement and debate. Some wondered if undercover policing could soon spread to buses or taxis. The law itself is hardly new. Minibus passengers have been required to buckle up for more than 20 years. What... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3331480/hong-kongs-road-safety-laws-must-be-enforced-clarity-and-care?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3331480/hong-kongs-road-safety-laws-must-be-enforced-clarity-and-care?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Nov 2025 08:34:22 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang said he remained hopeful of returning to the China market, as US President Donald Trump signalled that the company’s state-of-the-art Blackwell artificial intelligence chips could feature in his coming talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Speaking on the sidelines of Nvidia’s flagship GTC (GPU Technology Conference) in Washington on Tuesday, Huang said he had “100 per cent confidence in President Trump’s ability to cut a great deal for America”. He noted... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3330792/nvidia-ceo-pins-hopes-china-comeback-trump-raises-blackwell-chip-talks-xi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3330792/nvidia-ceo-pins-hopes-china-comeback-trump-raises-blackwell-chip-talks-xi?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 10:56:07 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg American companies led by Alphabet’s Waymo have drawn much of the limelight with driverless cars deployed almost entirely on home soil. Now that some are beginning to look abroad, they’ll have to share roads with Chinese companies quietly making plenty of progress. Baidu’s Apollo Go, WeRide and Pony.ai are outnumbering their American counterparts with more robotaxi projects progressing from testing to various stages of commercialisation, according to a BloombergNEF analysis. While much of that... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3330415/chinese-robotaxis-race-waymo-take-driverless-cars-global?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3330415/chinese-robotaxis-race-waymo-take-driverless-cars-global?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2025 03:27:14 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese internet search and artificial intelligence giant Baidu is teaming up with Swiss public transport operator PostBus to bring robotaxi services to Switzerland. Beijing-based Baidu and PostBus, a subsidiary of national postal service Swiss Post, said in a joint statement on Wednesday that the two companies expected to start testing their on-demand smart mobility service, AmiGo, in the eastern region of Switzerland by December and scale up trials next year. AmiGo will deploy Baidu’s Apollo... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329941/baidu-and-public-transport-operator-postbus-launch-robotaxis-switzerland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329941/baidu-and-public-transport-operator-postbus-launch-robotaxis-switzerland?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 10:00:12 +0000 Lam Ka-sing,Ambrose Li Lam Ka-sing,Ambrose Li Hong Kong’s taxi industry is gearing up for a new battle over fair competition in the wake of a ride-hailing bill’s passage, demanding a meeting with transport officials and warning that the government’s franchised fleet initiative may be undermined. While industry bodies on Thursday broadly welcomed the long-awaited legal framework, they also raised unresolved details, saying the new law would be meaningless without strict and equitable rules on licensing, vehicle standards and operational... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3329285/taxi-industry-shifts-focus-fair-play-after-hong-kong-passes-ride-hailing-bill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3329285/taxi-industry-shifts-focus-fair-play-after-hong-kong-passes-ride-hailing-bill?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 13:12:23 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Ride-hailing companies are expected to be licensed by the fourth quarter of next year after legislators passed a bill establishing a regulatory framework for the services in Hong Kong, a step that should bring to an end a long-running acrimonious dispute with the taxi trade. By a show of hands, lawmakers passed the Road Traffic Amendment Bill on Wednesday, and it will be sent to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu for his signature before being gazetted. “The passage of the bill marks a new... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3329141/milestone-law-ends-decade-limbo-ride-hailing-services-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3329141/milestone-law-ends-decade-limbo-ride-hailing-services-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:50:54 +0000 Reuters Reuters A Florida man has been arrested on charges that he intentionally ignited the devastating Pacific Palisades Fire in Los Angeles that killed 12 people and wiped out neighbourhoods at the start of the year, the US Justice Department said on Wednesday. Jonathan Rinderknecht is facing federal criminal charges related to the fire after an investigation by the Los Angeles field division of the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Los Angeles Fire Department; and the Los... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3328285/us-man-arrested-suspect-setting-californias-deadly-palisades-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3328285/us-man-arrested-suspect-setting-californias-deadly-palisades-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 17:39:58 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial More than a decade since the first ride-hailing service took to Hong Kong’s streets, the law is finally catching up. Government proposals could legalise and regulate ride-hailing apps by the end of next year. Occasional crackdowns on illegal ride-hailing services have done nothing to dampen public demand for them, amid persistent criticism of the taxi industry’s safety and service standards. At the same time, cabbies have complained of unfair competition and falling returns. The government... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3327617/ride-hailing-regulation-shows-hong-kong-moving-right-direction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3327617/ride-hailing-regulation-shows-hong-kong-moving-right-direction?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 23:15:12 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 word Even Nobel laureates stumble. Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James A. Robinson, winners of the 2024 Nobel Prize in economics, argue that nations with extractive and non-inclusive institutions – where elites monopolise power – are doomed to stagnation. Democracies, by contrast,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3325741/chinas-rise-not-anomaly-be-dismissed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3325741/chinas-rise-not-anomaly-be-dismissed?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong authorities could use their right to control ride-hailing prices to prevent excessive and reductive competition, or involution, the Post has learned, but a lawmaker warned on Sunday that this could cause legal problems and suggested regulation through controlling the number of licences issued instead. A source said that the government could, under an existing section of the Road Traffic Ordinance, set a minimum price for ride-hailing services to avoid involution among ride-hailing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3324643/hong-kong-may-set-ride-hailing-floor-price-prevent-involution-post-learns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3324643/hong-kong-may-set-ride-hailing-floor-price-prevent-involution-post-learns?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Sep 2025 06:03:34 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Restricting permits to registered vehicle owners under Hong Kong’s proposed regulatory framework for legalising ride-hailing services will help address the problem of illegal drivers and prevent the speculative trading of licences, the city’s transport chief has said. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan on Friday also said that licensed drivers with registered vehicles could choose to register with multiple ride-hailing platforms to encourage “healthy competition”. A day earlier,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3324438/limiting-hong-kong-ride-hailing-permits-car-owners-will-deter-illegal-drivers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3324438/limiting-hong-kong-ride-hailing-permits-car-owners-will-deter-illegal-drivers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 05:21:35 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s transport authorities have unveiled a proposed regulatory framework for legalising ride-hailing services, which includes a licensing system as well as set requirements for vehicle age and insurance, in a move to end more than a decade of the industry operating in a legal grey area. The policy paper submitted to lawmakers on Thursday also outlined a series of measures to respond to the taxi industry’s concerns, including requiring ride-hailing vehicles to display clear markings while... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3324362/proposed-hong-kong-ride-hailing-rules-cover-licensing-vehicle-age-and-insurance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3324362/proposed-hong-kong-ride-hailing-rules-cover-licensing-vehicle-age-and-insurance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 10:17:39 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Pony AI is confident it will meet its 2025 robotaxi vehicle output target and is actively exploring new markets in Europe, even as the industry’s commercialisation develops at an uneven pace across different regions. Over 200 of Pony AI’s Gen-7 Robotaxi vehicles have been rolled out since mass production started two months ago, putting the firm on track to hit its 1,000 vehicle goal by year-end, the company said. That will help it break even on a per-vehicle basis, Chief Executive Officer James... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3321709/pony-ai-nearing-full-year-robotaxi-goal-eyes-european-markets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3321709/pony-ai-nearing-full-year-robotaxi-goal-eyes-european-markets?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 08:15:13 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin E-payment service provider AlipayHK will continue to waive fees for Hong Kong taxi drivers to encourage them to use its system, with the company saying the penetration rate has remained low due to cabbies’ persistent reluctance. Simon Leung, alternate chief executive of AlipayHK, said that the company had implemented several measures to boost adoption. These included enhancing the ride-hailing experience within its payment app for customers and providing drivers with QR codes that came with no... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3321351/alipayhk-extends-fee-waivers-hong-kong-cabbies-amid-e-payment-reluctance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3321351/alipayhk-extends-fee-waivers-hong-kong-cabbies-amid-e-payment-reluctance?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Aug 2025 23:00:09 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese internet search giant Baidu is partnering with US ride-hailing firm Lyft to launch robotaxis in Europe, marking the latest initiative by a Chinese company to expand its autonomous-driving technologies globally. Under the partnership, the companies plan to introduce autonomous vehicles in Germany and the UK as early as 2026, pending approval from local regulators, according to a joint announcement by Beijing-based Baidu and San Francisco-based Lyft on Monday. The companies said they... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3320674/chinas-baidu-partners-lyft-launch-robotaxis-uk-and-germany-soon-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3320674/chinas-baidu-partners-lyft-launch-robotaxis-uk-and-germany-soon-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 12:00:13 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Four out of Hong Kong’s five new premium taxi fleets failed to accept hire requests within 30 minutes in the city centre, a test by the Post has found several days after the cabs hit the streets with full licences providing ride-hailing alternatives for passengers. The test, conducted on a weekday morning in Tsim Sha Tsui, involved five Post reporters placing orders using separate apps from the five operators – SynCab, Amigo, Big Bee, Big Boss Taxi and Joie. Only SynCab confirmed a ride after an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3320501/how-easy-it-ride-hong-kongs-5-premium-taxi-fleets-only-1-passes-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3320501/how-easy-it-ride-hong-kongs-5-premium-taxi-fleets-only-1-passes-test?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Aug 2025 01:00:21 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Andrew Yiu* is at a crossroads about whether to continue his job as a full-time Uber driver, as the Hong Kong government plans to regulate ride-hailing platforms and impose requirements such as vehicle age limits. The city is set to legalise ride-hailing platforms in the first half of next year, ending over a decade of operating in a grey area. Among affected stakeholders are ride-hailing drivers like Yiu, who has earned HK$32,000 to HK$36,000 (US$4,076 to US$4,586) a month since joining Uber... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3319707/very-troublesome-will-hong-kong-ride-hailing-rules-turn-uber-drivers-away?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3319707/very-troublesome-will-hong-kong-ride-hailing-rules-turn-uber-drivers-away?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Jul 2025 01:00:17 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong’s proposed regulation of ride-hailing services shows that the government intends to take a slice of the market while reining in platforms and supporting the taxi trade, but the plan hinges on balancing the competing interests of all players, experts have said. Industry insiders added that the Transport and Logistics Bureau faced several challenges in achieving all three objectives. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan, who took office last December, told lawmakers on Friday... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3319012/can-taxis-and-ride-hailing-services-co-exist-hong-kong-under-new-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3319012/can-taxis-and-ride-hailing-services-co-exist-hong-kong-under-new-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 01:30:15 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese social media giant Tencent Holdings has joined US-based ride-hailing firm Uber Technologies to provide a seamless way for Chinese globetrotters to hail rides overseas. In a statement on Monday, Shenzhen-based Tencent said it integrated Uber into its messaging-to-payment super app WeChat, so that users can book trips in nine more countries and regions, including the US, UK, France and Australia. Mainland Chinese users of WeChat can already hail Uber rides in Hong Kong and Japan by tapping... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3319033/wechat-and-uber-team-offer-seamless-overseas-ride-hailing-chinese-travellers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3319033/wechat-and-uber-team-offer-seamless-overseas-ride-hailing-chinese-travellers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Jul 2025 10:45:29 +0000 Harvey Kong,Ng Kang-chung Harvey Kong,Ng Kang-chung While the hurricane-force winds and torrential rains of Typhoon Wipha battered Hong Kong on Sunday, some continued to work, and many restaurants remained open, supported by limited rail services. Among the restaurants that operated as usual was Chung Kee congee shop in Whampoa, as the operator said it did not expect the typhoon would escalate to a No 10 level. “Originally, we thought it would be just a No 8 typhoon signal. We are close to an MTR station, so we thought we would open and see what... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3318918/hong-kong-businesses-and-workers-weather-storm-typhoon-wiphas-fury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3318918/hong-kong-businesses-and-workers-weather-storm-typhoon-wiphas-fury?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Jul 2025 13:03:59 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial If something legally questionable is left unattended for more than a decade, it is either immaterial or too thorny to tackle. In Hong Kong, the operation of ride-hailing apps in a legal grey area since 2014 is by no means too trivial to ignore. Passengers often wonder about their safety while taxi drivers complain about unfair competition and shrinking returns. Yet the previous governments took a back seat and only opted for occasional crackdowns. The profitable trade has grown so much over the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3318394/hong-kongs-move-give-ride-hailing-apps-green-light-long-overdue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3318394/hong-kongs-move-give-ride-hailing-apps-green-light-long-overdue?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 23:15:16 +0000 Harvey Kong,Oscar Liu Harvey Kong,Oscar Liu Hong Kong authorities have unveiled highly anticipated proposals to regulate ride-hailing services, marking a significant milestone for a sector that has existed locally in a grey area for a decade. However, unanswered questions remain on the proposed new regulatory regime, with figures for quotas on ride-hailing vehicles, a levy on trips and assorted fees not yet disclosed. The Post unpacks the regulatory proposals and how they may affect users of ride-hailing services. 1. What is the proposed... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3318489/ride-hailing-set-be-legalised-hong-kong-2026-what-questions-remain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3318489/ride-hailing-set-be-legalised-hong-kong-2026-what-questions-remain?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:58:02 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Ride-hailing giant Uber has urged the Hong Kong government not to over-regulate industry platforms, saying its own data shows that services and drivers need flexibility, with the city set to legalise such firms next year after operating in a grey area for a decade. US-based Uber, the dominant player in Hong Kong, submitted a document to the legislature on Wednesday to show the importance of ride-sharing as a critical income source for residents, a day after the government revealed a legal... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3318461/flexible-ride-hailing-rules-are-needed-uber-tells-hong-kong-authorities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3318461/flexible-ride-hailing-rules-are-needed-uber-tells-hong-kong-authorities?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:51:03 +0000 Danielle Popov Danielle Popov Chinese search engine and AI giant Baidu and global taxi-hailing firm Uber Technologies have agreed to work together to deploy thousands of Baidu Apollo Go robotaxis in markets outside the US and mainland China, a move that comes as Tesla seeks to expand its robotaxis in the US. The multi-year deal will see robotaxis deployed in Asia and the Middle East later this year, according to a joint statement. It was unclear whether the partnership would include Hong Kong, where Baidu’s Apollo Go... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3318412/baidu-joins-uber-deploy-robotaxis-asia-middle-east-tesla-expands-service-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3318412/baidu-joins-uber-deploy-robotaxis-asia-middle-east-tesla-expands-service-us?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:00:19 +0000 Denise Tsang,Cannix Yau Denise Tsang,Cannix Yau Hong Kong is set to legalise ride-hailing services as early as the first half of next year, paving the way for online platform operators to compete head-on with taxis after having existed in a grey space in the city for a decade. But authorities have stressed that taxis must also be allowed to survive and that ride-hailing platforms must abide by a set of standards and responsibilities, according to a much-awaited paper submitted to the Legislative Council on Tuesday ahead of a panel discussion... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3318229/hong-kong-ride-hailing-rules-must-ensure-safety-fair-competition-taxis-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3318229/hong-kong-ride-hailing-rules-must-ensure-safety-fair-competition-taxis-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jul 2025 03:58:54 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Operators of ride-hailing platforms and vehicles in Hong Kong will need to apply for renewable rather than permanent licences under a proposed regulatory framework, to prevent speculative trading that is rampant in the city’s taxi trade, the Post has learned. An insider said on Thursday that the ride-hailing platforms would need to pay for the licences, which would have a validity of five years. The number of vehicles operating under each platform would also be capped, and the owner of each... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3317670/ride-hailing-operators-vehicles-hong-kong-need-renewable-licences?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3317670/ride-hailing-operators-vehicles-hong-kong-need-renewable-licences?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 07:06:06 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Nearly 80 per cent of more than 4,800 Uber drivers polled in Hong Kong are worried that a strict quota or high licensing fees under coming new regulations for ride-hailing platforms will threaten their livelihoods. The results of the poll conducted by platform operator Uber in June were revealed on Tuesday, just days after Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan announced that a highly anticipated regulatory proposal would be submitted to the legislature before the end of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3317361/80-hong-kong-uber-drivers-worried-about-quota-and-fees-under-new-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3317361/80-hong-kong-uber-drivers-worried-about-quota-and-fees-under-new-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 07:29:18 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin A regulatory proposal on ride-hailing services in Hong Kong will be submitted to the legislature before the end of the month, the transport minister has said, months earlier than the original plan amid calls to accelerate the process. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Sunday that the authorities would provide more comprehensive and concrete details on regulating ride-hailing platforms, drivers and vehicles as they strived to roll out the proposal within this month. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3317130/hong-kong-government-accelerates-plan-ride-hailing-legislation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3317130/hong-kong-government-accelerates-plan-ride-hailing-legislation?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Jul 2025 06:58:35 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong court has quashed a government decision to refuse hire car permits to two prospective Uber drivers seven years ago, rejecting authorities’ contentions that the move could open the floodgates for ride-hailing services and private vehicles to operate as “pseudo-taxis”. In a written judgment handed down on Thursday, the High Court found that the commissioner for transport’s dismissal of two litigants’ requests for a permit in 2018 to be based on an “impracticable, illogical and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3316820/hong-kong-court-quashes-government-decision-refuse-permits-2-uber-drivers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3316820/hong-kong-court-quashes-government-decision-refuse-permits-2-uber-drivers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:20:26 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification I’m writing in response to the letter, “Is Hong Kong’s culture of comparison weighing down on students?” (June 15). As a psychotherapist – and someone who grew up in Hong Kong and struggled with... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3316629/hong-kong-students-mental-well-being-starts-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3316629/hong-kong-students-mental-well-being-starts-home?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said late on Sunday that trade talks with the US have resumed after Canada rescinded its plan to tax US technology firms. US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he was suspending trade talks with Canada over its plans to continue with its tax on technology firms, which he called “a direct and blatant attack on our country”. The Canadian government said “in anticipation” of a trade deal, “Canada would rescind” the Digital Services Tax. The tax was set to... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3316318/carney-says-trade-talks-us-resume-after-canada-rescinded-tech-tax?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3316318/carney-says-trade-talks-us-resume-after-canada-rescinded-tech-tax?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Jun 2025 02:58:27 +0000 Mike Rowse Mike Rowse This week marks the third anniversary of John Lee Ka-chiu taking up the office of chief executive, with just two years to go in the current term. I wonder if we are getting close to a sensible resolution of Hong Kong’s taxi/hired car situation. Though I am an optimist, on the basis of past form, I find it difficult to be confident. After all, 2025 also marks the 11th anniversary of Uber setting up in Hong Kong. Yet here we are – two Hong Kong chief executives have come and gone, and a company... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3315944/so-hong-kong-has-pledged-legalise-ride-hailing-dont-hold-your-breath?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3315944/so-hong-kong-has-pledged-legalise-ride-hailing-dont-hold-your-breath?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Jun 2025 08:30:08 +0000 Bernard Chan Bernard Chan In today’s political climate, perception often matters as much as, if not more than, policy results. This is particularly clear in the United States under Donald Trump’s presidency. Whether one supports him, Trump’s skill in shaping the narrative and rallying support has changed modern politics, even when his proposals are unrealistic or unattainable. Consider Trump’s earlier proposal to impose a 145 per cent tariff on Chinese imports. Economists universally dismissed the idea as unfeasible.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3315814/us-hong-kong-governance-divided-world-ever-more-complex?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3315814/us-hong-kong-governance-divided-world-ever-more-complex?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Karman Lucero Karman Lucero What are the origins of China’s leverage in the trade war? And why are China’s exports disrupting markets across the world? That China has a strong hand is largely because it has picked up lessons from Silicon Valley and deployed the tactics at every level of the supply chain. Just as Silicon Valley companies “hacked” markets by upending traditional notions of best business practices and industry dynamics, many Chinese companies are doing the same with the global economy – and transforming... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3315063/china-taking-silicon-valleys-market-hacks-whole-new-level?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3315063/china-taking-silicon-valleys-market-hacks-whole-new-level?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Jun 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Over more than a decade, the price of a Hong Kong taxi licence has plummeted from an astronomical HK$7 million to less than HK$2 million. Is buying back these licences with taxpayers’ money the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3315606/lets-move-towards-unified-platform-taxi-and-ride-hailing-services?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3315606/lets-move-towards-unified-platform-taxi-and-ride-hailing-services?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Jun 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Ride-hailing firm Uber has warned users in Hong Kong of potentially higher fares and longer wait times, and its drivers of possible loss of income, under the government’s proposed regulations for online platforms. In an email to its 30,000 drivers and 1.5 million users in Hong Kong, the US-based firm said on Thursday that authorities were considering new rules for ride-hailing platforms that might restrict the number of ride-sharing drivers or vehicles on the road. “We support efforts to bring... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3315043/uber-warns-hong-kong-users-higher-fares-longer-wait-times-under-proposal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3315043/uber-warns-hong-kong-users-higher-fares-longer-wait-times-under-proposal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Jun 2025 07:25:43 +0000