Uber inks deal to list NYC taxis in its app

Uber struck an agreement to list all taxis in New York City on its app, it was revealed on Thursday, as the private transport giant grappled with a shortage of drivers.

The Nasdaq-traded company would implement the plan later in the pairing, and would result in the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission connecting its ride-hailing system to Uber’s software.

It would mean around 14,000 of New York’s iconic ‘medallion’ cabs, and the green ‘boro taxis’ which ply the outer boroughs, will be bookable in the Uber app.

Uber drivers in New York City are already paid a minimum time and distance fare set by the Taxi and Limousine Commission, under a previous deal reached after Uber’s arrival caused uproar among taxi operators.

Taxi drivers taking passengers from the Uber app would be paid on the same basis, with Uber claiming that its drivers in the city tend to earn more than taxi drivers already.

While New York would be the first city in Uber’s home of the United States to have taxis listed in the app, the company has been working with cab operators in international markets for a number of years.

The firm said it was aiming to have “every taxi in the world” listed by 2025, and last year claimed to have added 122,000 taxis on its app.

“It’s bigger and bolder than anything we’ve done,” said Uber’s global mobility chief Andrew Macdonald in comments to the Wall Street Journal.

The Covid-19 pandemic proved difficult for Uber’s operating model, as a collapse in demand for passenger transport coincided with a surge in demand for food and other home delivery services, seeing many drivers switch sectors.

At 1057 EDT (1457 GMT), shares in Uber were up 2.24% in New York at $33.80.