125 Years of the Berlin Taxi Guild – Between Tradition and Change

The Berlin Taxi Guild celebrated its 125th anniversary on June 12th – a milestone that was not only an occasion for celebration but also for reflecting on the future of a profession increasingly pressured by competition. At the MCF Motor Company branch in Spandau, where entrepreneurs, politicians, and industry representatives gathered, the joy over the anniversary was palpable – but it did not stop at nostalgic retrospectives.

An Industry Under Pressure

"The order situation is very weak," noted Leszek Nadolski, First Chairman of the Berlin Taxi Guild, in advance. Many drivers find themselves compelled to also drive for platform providers like Uber or Bolt. Even the possibility of booking fixed prices in taxis, available for a year now, has done little to change this. Although it provides price certainty and is appreciated by customers, the economic relief for drivers has been absent.

The main problem remains structural competition. While taxi companies are bound by legally defined minimum prices, rental car providers can set their prices flexibly. For the guild, this is a clear competitive disadvantage. Nadolski therefore calls for uniform rules:

"Then the advantage lies with the better service provider."

In January, the Berlin Senate announced the examination of minimum prices for rental cars. According to current information, this has not yet been completed. A decision is expected by the end of the year. Already last year, the State Office for Citizens and Regulatory Affairs (LABO) checked hundreds of vehicles on platforms like Uber and Bolt and took many of them off the road. However, the industry observes that rental car companies are increasingly shifting to the Berlin suburbs – a development that, according to Nadolski, stands in the way of effective control.

Ceremonial Speeches and Clear Messages

On June 13, the anniversary was celebrated with an official ceremony. Host Detlef Slupinski, owner of MCF Motor Company, referred to his company's social responsibility in his opening speech. The foundation he and his wife founded supports trainees facing difficulties – a signal that training and solidarity also count in the industry.

The Senator for Mobility, Ute Bonde, recalled the historical significance of taxis for Berlin. Her speech combined humorous observations – “In the past, you waved, today you swipe” – with political announcements: They would continue to address the problem of illegal providers. Berlin had already taken action, but for example, the BER airport is already outside the city limits. To manage the pressure from vehicles of platform operators flowing into Berlin from outside, close cooperation with Brandenburg and the other surrounding districts is extremely important. A newly established working group on the platform business is intended to help municipalities implement similar measures as Berlin.

Dr. Severin Fischer, State Secretary of the Senate Department for Economic Affairs, emphasized the economic importance of the taxi industry. With around 5,000 taxis and over 10,000 employees, the industry remains a stable component of the city's mobility offering and urban economy. The electrification of the taxi fleet is another important step: Already, 500 e-taxis are on Berlin's roads, and soon the mark of 1,000 will be reached.

“Precisely because taxis drive so much, their contribution to climate protection should not be underestimated.”

An Appeal to Politics

The emotional climax was formed by the – very short – speech of Leszek Nadolski. He thanked everyone for the honors and the great response, but once again emphasized the central demand of the industry: minimum prices for rental cars. This demand was also affirmed by the President of the German Taxi and Rental Car Association (TMV), Thomas Kroker. He reminded everyone of the planned nationwide taxi action on July 2 and insisted:

“Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg must lead the way with minimum prices for rental cars, and then the others will follow!”

Christian Linz, managing director of the Bavarian regional association, concluded the official program with a poem, which he – to general amusement – recited with borrowed glasses. The verses, as he candidly admitted, came from an AI. However, the two images under the framed poem – historical taxi scenes from Berlin – were originals.