UBER UPDATE
UBER EXPANDS ACROSS WILTSHIRE AS LOCAL TAXI FIRMS BRACE FOR IMPACT
Uber has officially returned to Swindon and launched in Salis- bury, sparking a divide between happy passengers and worried local cabbies. After being granted a PH operator licence by local councils, Uber is now fully operational across the region. In Swindon, the council quietly
approved the move last year, though it only recently became public knowledge. Many residents have welcomed the competition, citing low fares and fast service. However, the rollout has faced criticism from those in rural areas, like Dave Morton, who warned that in the countryside, “Uber says your
taxi is half an hour away on the monitor and it never arrives.” Traditional taxi firms are less enthusiastic, fearing the tech giant will drive them out of business. John, a local hackney driver, argued “the council should be ashamed of themselves,” predicting “customer numbers will drop for everybody.”
ISLE OF WIGHT CABBIES SOUND ALARM AS UBER MOVES IN
Local taxi drivers on the Isle of Wight are sounding the alarm after the council granted a licence to the global ride-hailing giant Uber, fearing the move could destroy their livelihoods. While Uber claims it is excited to “give people a safe, affordable and easy option to get where they
need to go,” long-standing local drivers believe the arrival of the app will flood a limited market. Matt Hayles, who has driven on the island for 14 years, warned of a strategy to push out competition. “They will ruin the business. They will undercut everybody to promote the business and then whack up
UBER BACKS FRENCH HYDROGEN TAXI FIRM IN PUSH FOR GREENER RIDES
Uber has announced it is taking a stake in HysetCo, a French hydrogen taxi start-up, marking the ride-hailing giant’s first-ever investment in a French company. While the exact amount of money being invested has not been shared, the deal is being made through a loan that can later be turned into company shares. The goal of this new partnership is to add 2,000 hydrogen-powered cars to Uber’s platform for business clients over the next five years. Currently, Uber already has about 5,000 traditional taxis working in
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the Paris region, while HysetCo operates around 800 hydrogen vehicles and runs its own network of charging stations. HysetCo’s president, Loic Voisin, called the deal a “strong signal that hydrogen mobility is ready for large- scale deployment.” Uber’s director for France, Laureline Serieys, added that the move helps the company reach its goals for a cleaner future. She said: “with hydrogen vehicles, we are completing our arsenal of vehicles for zero-emission trips for taxis and taking a new step in our shift to clean mobility.”
the prices. It will not work over here, there’s not the footfall,” he said. Drivers are also frustrated by a lack of consultation. Mr Hayles noted that local cabbies “jump through a lot of hoops” to stay licensed, while any new competition would force them to “work two, three, four times harder to earn the same money.” The unique geography of the island is another major concern for local firms. Asem Ivanov of OK Taxis explained that the Uber model relies on constant back-to-back trips, which is difficult in rural areas. He noted: “If I’m going from here to drop somebody to Ventnor, the chance of getting a return journey is pretty much zero.” While Karoly Katona from Leaders Cabs admitted that “for the customers, it’s good,” he warned that more cars on the road inevitably means “less jobs” for individual drivers. The Isle of Wight Council defended the decision, stating its policy does not require consultation with the trade or the public. Officials added it is not their role to oversee the business plans of applicants.
MAY 2026 PHTM
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