Think Tank 2025: Taxi 4.0 – How the industry is reinventing its future

On 23 and 24 October 2025, in Bamberg, the Think Tank of the Taxi and Rental Car Association (TMV) took place under the motto "Taxi 4.0 – Rethinking Mobility." Representatives from law, taxation, marketing and technology discussed with entrepreneurs and industry partners about current challenges and future prospects of the trade.

Key Topics and Insights

1. Law and Regulation

Attorney Dr. Lars Maritzen presented the current case law on Uber & Co. and emphasized the need for consistent supervision and clear rules in competition law. Especially in focus were:

• the return-to-base obligation (§49(4) PBefG),
• the acceptance of orders at the operating base, and
• the handling of unapproved business models of digital platforms.
• His conclusion: Only through strong regulatory oversight and uniform enforcement of the market conduct rules can fair competition remain possible.

2. Taxation and Fiscalization

Tax advisor Edo Diekmann explained the upcoming requirements for the fiscal recording of taximeter data (TSE) and the digitization of cash register systems. In the future, all business transactions must be documented electronically to prevent manipulations. He called for equal tax rules for taxi and car rental companies and referred to new obligations such as the Platform Reporting Act, which obliges providers like Uber to transmit data to the tax office.

3. Marketing and Positioning

Communication expert Bernhard Linz analyzed in the workshop the position of the taxi industry in comparison to platforms such as Uber. In a SWOT analysis, strengths (reliability, regulation) and weaknesses (digitalization backlog, inconsistent branding) were identified.
His appeal: The taxi must again be perceived as a “reliable, modern and fair mobility brand” – through joint communication, clear positioning and innovative services.

4. Future Prospects and Technology

Several speakers presented practical solutions:

• Freenow presented a digital dispatch software for taxi companies that reduces empty trips and distributes orders more efficiently
• Fast Travel from Norway demonstrated a taxi-management system that dramatically reduces drivers’ waiting times at Oslo Airport and provides full price transparency for passengers
• Christian Linz discussed the modernization of the PBefG, for example regarding color schemes, advertising and alarm systems, and advocated for more practical regulations.
• Thomas Grätz drew a five-year balance sheet five years after the PBefG amendment and called for, among other things, the obligation to minimum transport fares for rental cars, a permit requirement for all intermediaries, and the abolition of outdated special regulations