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Uber launches in Fulda – taxi industry reacts critically
The mobility service provider Uber started its ride-hailing service in Fulda on October 29, 2026. This expands the platform operator's offering in Hesse and opens up another market outside the larger urban areas. According to the company, there was already significant demand for rides via the app before the start. Some parts of the local taxi trade view the market entry with skepticism and express doubts about the profitability of a collaboration.
50,000 ride requests before market launch
Fulda has around 70,000 inhabitants and thus belongs to the smaller cities where Uber offers its ride-hailing service. According to the company, the mobility service provider is now represented in around 70 German cities, including Frankfurt am Main. Worldwide, the platform operates in more than 15,000 cities.
As a basis for the decision to enter the market, Uber cites, among other things, the existing demand via its app. In the past twelve months, around 50,000 ride requests had been registered in Fulda, even though the ride-hailing service was not yet available there.
The provider sees potential especially for trips to the train station and for evening restaurant visits. According to the company, the digital platform should complement existing mobility offerings.
In Fulda, Uber has been present since November 2025 with its meal delivery service Uber Eats. With the new ride-dispatching offering, the company expands its activities in the city to passenger transport.
Uber relies on partnerships with local businesses
Uber arranges rides through its digital platform for cooperating taxi and rental-car companies. According to Christoph Weigler, Germany's head, the participating companies should thereby receive additional ride requests and be able to reach new customer groups.
The platform operator sees this as an opportunity to complement the existing transport offering in Fulda. At the same time, the matchmaking model is aimed at companies that want to deploy their vehicles via the app for additional rides.
Taxi industry doubts profitability
Local taxi companies are reacting differently to the market entry. Andreas Müller, second chairman of the Taxi-Zentrale Fulda association, is opposed to the new offering. In particular, he views the profitability of rides mediated via Uber as critical, given the existing cost structure.
Müller does not intend to have his company participate in the platform. According to him, within the local taxi trade, in addition to numerous opposing voices, there are also some positive assessments.
Taxi businesswoman Maria Melillo-Lucas also rejects cooperation with Uber. She doubts that the new ride-matching service will establish itself permanently in Fulda.
Market launch apparently with six vehicles
According to information from the Fuldaer Zeitung, a local businessman who has so far been active in the local taxi industry is to initially offer the new Uber service with six of his own vehicles. If demand is adequate, the fleet could be expanded.
The businessman in question has not publicly commented on his involvement so far. Further details on the planned deployment of vehicles or on the economic structure of the offering are not available from the initial report.
Thus, it remains open for the time being how the new ride-hailing service will affect the local transportation market and to what extent further taxi or rental-car companies will engage in a collaboration with Uber. (Source: Fuldaer Zeitung)
Content automatically translated.
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