Topic

Uberi

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.

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The scrapping of a plan for a premium taxi service app means Hong Kong will remain as one of the few major cities without a legal ride-hailing service. But if introducing competition to the taxi industry means more choice and better service, most customers would agree.

If the city is serious about embracing innovation that improves competitiveness, it must not allow vested interests and a much-criticised taxi industry to frustrate car-hailing services.

With troubled Hong Kong fearing a loss of investor and business confidence, proposed headquarters move from Singapore by ride-hailing giant should be actively encouraged.

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  • More than 8,000 taxi drivers and hire-car owners banded together to launch a class action against the US ride-sharing giant in 2019
  • Lawyers alleged that Uber engaged in ‘shocking conduct’ when it launched in Australia, including using ‘unlicensed cars with unaccredited drivers’
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A review is to be held in a bid to put the brakes on illegal ride-hailing services; findings to be discussed with taxi industry and others involved in six months.

Readers discuss the revision of China’s Cultural Relics Protection Law, navigating Hong Kong’s Covid-19 vaccine booking site, replacing taxis with new transport modes and peak interest rates.

Starting early next year, Uber will offer riders the option of choosing a London black cab as part of the company’s expansion into a one-stop transport app, including bookings for intercity trains and car rentals.

In a last-ditch effort to defuse the situation, government pledges to amend the law to stiffen punishments against those providing illegal ride-hailing services.

China needs to develop 1 million artificial intelligence-native applications and less AI large language models, according to Baidu co-founder, chairman and chief executive Robin Li.

Wonder, a subsidiary of Bindo Labs, is determined to put its system, which accepts forms of payment including Visa, Mastercard, Alipay and UnionPay, into 10,000 taxis in a year’s time.

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Jess, a full-time teacher in Sydney who joined Uber Eats last month to help cope with the rising cost of living, was given a one-star review by a drug dealer after she took the package to the police.

Uber Technologies said it would focus on delivering profits this year, after rounding off 2022 with blowout earnings as a surge in demand for airport and office rides helped the company rebound from pandemic lows.

The multi-billionaire’s acquisition led to an exodus of many of the social media company’s legal, privacy and compliance executives, prompting the wider investigation.

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Hong Kong falls eight places in ‘Urban Mobility Readiness Index’ despite topping a sub-index for having the best public transit system in the world.

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Base fares for Uber’s more affordable options to rise by at least 15 per cent during peak hours and weekends, with increase in per-kilometre charges most significant in the New Territories.

A leaked cache of confidential files from ride-sharing company Uber illustrates ethically dubious and potentially illegal tactics it used to fuel its frenetic global expansion.

A report in France’s Le Monde newspaper alleges that transport giant Uber came to a ‘deal’ with Macron when he was economy minister between 2014 and 2016.