Didi-backed Taxify suspended in London

Rupert Reid Sino.uk Published: 2017-09-12 10:49:21
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Taxify, an Estonian Uber rival which has received backing from China's Didi Chuxing, has halted its London service after just three days of operations.

A Taxify car [File photo: 21cn.com]

A Taxify car [File photo: 21cn.com]

At the beginning of last week, they were preparing to launch in London, with 3,000 new drivers trained and ready and shiny new offices in King's Cross.

By Thursday, there had been a potential battle between Taxify and Transport For London, the local transport regulator, following concerns raised by other operators that Taxify might not hold a valid licence.

Fast-forward to the weekend and, less than a week after launch, Taxify's London operation has been temporarily suspended.

Transport For London has halted Taxify's services in the city, ruling that the company is not 'licensed to accept...bookings.'

Taxify have responded, accusing TFL of 'bullying' them, and immediately announcing their plans to appeal the decision.

Specialist transport publications have largely sided with TFL over the issue, suggesting that Taxify's plan to simply buy an existing operator to use their licence, rather than acquiring their own one, may be behind the argument.

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