The price war among platform operators in Zurich presents major challenges for the taxi industry.

On Monday morning, between 8 and 9 a.m., at the Albisgütli parking lot in Zürich-Wiedikon, around 800 to 1,000 Uber drivers, according to documents available to the Blick platform, gathered. They announced that they would not accept any rides for the entire day – as a sign against Uber's current business model. In the letter, it says that the drivers are confronted with "falling fares, rising operating costs and increasing competition from drivers from other cantons and from other European countries."

A concrete example shows how drastic the situation is, according to those affected. For a ride of over 43 kilometers, only just over 46 Swiss francs were paid. The Uber drivers spoke of earnings having fallen drastically — by as much as 60 percent in three years.

"At current prices, one can no longer speak of a living wage. The drivers are paying the price," says union representative Daniel Zoricic of the Syna union.

Market Mechanics and Competition

The cause of the discontent lies primarily in the competitive pressure exerted by the Estonian company Bolt, which has been active in Zurich since May 2024. Bolt advertises cheaper ride services; Uber responded to this with price reductions. The consequence: Uber drivers' earnings fell. Uber itself points out that licensed drivers could adjust their prices "at any time" – a claim that drivers and unions reject in view of practical realities.

“We know how important the success of independent drivers is for the success of our platform,” Uber said in a statement.

A quarter to a fifth of earnings go to the platform operator

In Switzerland, Uber charges drivers a 25 percent commission, while Bolt had initially advertised a reduced commission of only 5 percent. Bolt now charges a 20 percent commission. When calculating net income, drivers on both platforms must take into account additional costs such as vehicle maintenance, fuel and insurance.