International: Taxi News from Sweden

Bolt wins contract for transport of people with disabilities in Uppsala

The Uppsala region has, for the first time, commissioned the ride-service provider Bolt with service trips such as transport for people with disabilities, special-needs transport, and medical transport. The contract is set to start in November 2026 and covers 20 vehicles – around four percent of the total fleet. In total 14 companies will carry out such trips in the region in the future. The Swedish Taxi Association criticized the decision and accused Bolt of poor working conditions. The region, by contrast, points to strict requirements: All providers must meet collective-bargaining-like conditions; in addition, there are clear requirements on minimum wage, working hours and vacation. A specially established monitoring organization is to continuously check quality. In case of violations the contract can be terminated immediately. (September 2025, Source: svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/uppsala/beslutet-bolt-ska-kora-fardtjanst-i-uppsala)

Gothenburg tests wireless charging for electric taxis

In Gothenburg a pilot project has been running since 2022 in which a fleet of 20 electric Volvo taxis is being charged wirelessly for the first time. According to the involved parties, the vehicles covered more than 4.3 million kilometers within three years, while inductive floor pads covered around 13.5 percent of the total energy demand. Drivers reported that charging without a cable made operations easier, although precise positioning via the integrated 360-degree camera assistant is required. The project is part of the city's “Green City Zone,” which aims to promote emission-free mobility by 2030. The officials see potential for using the technology in other European cities, but point out that additional charging points would be necessary for wider use. (June 2025, Source: Euronews, euronews.com/next/2025/06/27/volvo-trialled-wireless-charging-stations-for-ev-taxis-in-sweden-heres-how-it-went)

Cabonline inspects 1,500 taxis in Stockholm

Cabonline says that, in Stockholm, it completed its annual Quality Week at the beginning of November, during which all 1,500 company taxis in the region were inspected. At the Stinsen facility in Sollentuna, employees checked tires, alcohol-ignition interlocks, taximeters, price information, and the overall vehicle condition for a week. According to Cabonline, identified deficiencies were corrected immediately to ensure safety and reliability of the fleet. The initiative is considered an important part of the company-wide quality and safety program, which takes place twice a year in different regions. Officials also stressed the importance of dialogue with drivers and transport partners, which was also a focus during Inspection Week.

Cabonline is regarded as the largest taxi operator in Scandinavia and operates around 3,800 vehicles in 175 cities in Sweden, Norway and Finland. The company relies on shared technical infrastructure to provide its connected partners with efficient processes and competitive operating conditions. (November 2025, source: Nasdaq, view.news.eu.nasdaq.com/view?id=b9ed3455e0f787ba5e38894062c857639&lang=en&src=micro)

Driver-oriented ride-hailing app Fair aims to overhaul Sweden's taxi industry

In Sweden, a new ride-hailing model has been forming for several years with the Fair platform that clearly distinguishes itself from large providers such as Uber and Bolt. Born out of driver protests against falling incomes and strict platform rules, Fair adopts a consistently driver-oriented concept: the drivers are majority stakeholders, pay lower fees and benefit from more generous working conditions. Supported by the mobility platform ATOM Mobility, Fair aims to expand to further Swedish cities after a successful start in Stockholm. The project also serves as a catalyst for a broader debate about fairness and labor rights in the taxi economy.

Fair was launched in June 2023 in Sweden and has since recorded over 20,000 app downloads. The platform is rated by users at 4.9 out of 5 stars. More information can be found at fairtaxi.se. (January 2025, source: atommobility.com/blog/driving-change-with-fair-how-a-small-platform-is-redefining-the-taxi-industry-in-sweden)

Bolt starts partnership for driverless taxis in Europe with Pony.ai

Bolt plans, together with the Chinese company Pony.ai, to enter the European market for driverless taxis. The partners want to carry out extensive safety checks of their fully autonomous systems first, before the technology is tested and deployed in several European countries. Bolt aims to be among the first platforms in the EU to offer fully autonomous vehicles starting in 2026. At the same time, the company criticizes Europe's strict regulations, which currently only permit Level-2 systems and effectively block many ride-hailing markets. Bolt warns that Europe must not repeat the same shortcomings in autonomous driving as with the licensing of professional drivers. (November 2025, Source: Reuters via thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2025/11/25/bolt-partners-with-ponyai-for-driverless-cars-in-europe)

Study on the Swedish shared-mobility sector

A current analysis by market researcher Tracxn examines the Swedish shared-mobility sector, which includes taxi and ride-hailing services as well as vehicle rentals and subscriptions. In total, 80 companies were identified, including 14 funded providers, which together have raised 788 million US dollars in venture capital. The study makes clear that ride-hailing and taxi-like services constitute only a portion of the much broader mobility segment, which also includes pooling services, self-drive rentals and digital booking platforms for public transport. (October 2025, Source: tracxn.com/d/explore/shared-mobility-startups-in-sweden/__62e0t0YkvuBIlOPL3YyB0Pn7BL39A0TtbOZA6Lkpbt0)

Sweden's taxi market is set to grow further

Another study examined Sweden's taxi market from 2025 to 2031. The market is undergoing change: strict regulation, high prices and a strong focus on safety shape the business, but ride-hailing providers such as Uber and Bolt drive competition and innovation according to the market researcher. Industry analyses are expected to show a growing demand for sustainable solutions — particularly electric and hybrid vehicles — as well as increased use of digital booking and payment systems.