Taxi drivers in Essen call for set rates amid intense competition - Cab drivers in Essen call for a set minimum fare to maintain fair competition.
Revamped Article:
Hey there! Today, we're diving into the fierce battle for fares in Essen, Germany, where taxi drivers took matters into their own hands and skills to the streets, rallying against their cheap-fare rental car competitors like Uber. The occasion? A noisy horn concert accompanied by a lengthy cab queue, the slogan echoing loud and clear: "No More Social Dumping — Raise Prices Now!"
The scene unfolded in the city center, with some 140 people and around 110 taxis rallying on a bustling thoroughfare near the town hall. Police had to close the area due to the commotion.
Taxi industry Vs. Rental Cars
Dirk Schäfer, spokesperson for Taxi Essen, argues that the rental car hordes infiltrating the city, providers like Uber or Bolt in tow, are causing a cab kerfuffle. These competitors often provide rides at a staggering 30 to 40 percent cheaper than the city-set taxi tariffs, Schäfer explains. His solution? Minimum tariffs for rental cars and a limitation on their numbers.
Industry Struggling to Compete
Cabbies claim to be treading water against these pricey opponents, conceding that they are subject to local taxes and function as an integral aspect of public transportation. Unlike taxi drivers, rental car drivers enjoy fixed prices from international platforms, which are neither regulated nor predictable, thus allowing for rock-bottom prices during lean periods or exorbitant ones during high demand, like trade fairs, Schäfer reasons.
The Essen cab industry finds it hard to keep up with the relentless price-cutter competition, Schäfer claims. Currently, only about 420 taxis are employed within the city's 620 available licenses, with many going unused.
A Hit to Income
Schäfer, a seasoned 65-year-old cab driver, confesses that decreased income from the cheaper rental car rivals has taken a 30% toll on his earnings in the recent past. He asserts that they work tirelessly for ten hours straight for a measly €120 – that's bye bye minimum wage!
City and Taxi Industry Aligned
As it so happens, the city shares the cab drivers' concerns, with city officials aspiring to establish a minimum tariff for rental car providers. According to Schäfer, a study is underway to ensure the implementation is legally sound. Spot inspections for rule-breaking are common, particularly during large Essen events.
Now, while our exploration focused on Essen, it's essential to note that the overall taxi industry is grappling with similar challenges as they adapt to the growth of ride-hailing services like Uber and Bolt, as well as thriving rental car companies. Stay tuned as the story unfolds!
- Taxi
- Rental Car
- Uber
- Horn Concert
- Minimum Wage
- Police
P.S. Rental car companies like Sixt and other car rentals face their own set of challenges, such as regulatory and environmental hurdles, but there's no specific push for rental car pricing changes in the context of taxi or ride-hailing services,based on our search. Hope you found this insightful!
- Dirk Schäfer, the spokesperson for Taxi Essen, suggested implementing minimum tariffs for rental cars and limiting their numbers to create a fair competition with local taxis.
- The taxi industry in Essen is struggling to compete with rental car providers like Uber and Bolt, as these competitors offer rides at a significantly cheaper price compared to the city-set taxi tariffs.
- The demonstration by Essen taxi drivers claimed that the cheap prices offered by rental car providers are causing a significant hit to their income, with many drivers working long hours for low wages.
- The city of Essen shares the concerns of the taxi industry and is working on establishing a minimum tariff for rental car providers to level the playing field.
