Cab topics (general)

Those who find themselves stranded at the station late at night and rely on the app from Uber or Bolt often encounter disappointment. Supposedly available rides turn out to be a mirage – the algorithm searches in vain for a driver, and the order gets canceled. Such experiences are becoming more frequent, as user reports show.

The Taxi and Rental Car Association (TMV) introduces key industry topics into political discussions. The association discussed with the CDU and SPD about reducing bureaucracy, barrier-free mobility, and expanding public transport taxis, especially with regard to rural areas.

The debate over minimum wages for passenger transportation with rental cars is coming to a head: In Munich, two industries with opposing interests are colliding. The taxi industry is showing its presence with its own actions – in response to a demonstration by rental car providers.

Mercedes-Benz is withdrawing from the small commercial vehicle segment and discontinuing the T-Class and Citan models. This decision marks the end of the collaboration with Renault and is part of a strategic realignment of the company.

Uber, the US-based ride-hailing platform, is expanding its service in North Rhine-Westphalia. Recently, rides can also be booked via the Uber app in Bielefeld, Gelsenkirchen, and Moers. With this, the service is now active in 17 cities in the state.

The Volvo V60 will soon hit the road as a taxi: The Swedish premium car brand is expanding its product portfolio and now offers a turnkey taxi conversion for the spacious station wagon.

The German Taxi and Rental Car Association (BVTM) welcomes the swift agreement of CDU, CSU, and SPD on a coalition agreement. The association sees positive signals in e-mobility, calls for improvements in public transport taxis, and urges renewed attention to the PBefG.

Japan, a country with highly developed public transportation but growing mobility gaps in rural areas, is quietly but fundamentally restructuring its transportation systems. Now ride-hailing is expected to help fill the gaps in the transportation system.

The separation of the Digital and Transport Ministry - in other words, the decision to make two independent ministries out of it - is more than just an organizational measure for the taxi industry.

From the outside, one might think it is a classic conflict between economics and ethics. But upon closer inspection, it becomes clear: it is about attitude – and about credibility.

The new partnership between the Federal Association of Taxi and Rental Cars (BVTM) and Ballnath Assekuranz ensures special conditions for members on liability and comprehensive insurance.

Strong exchange and clear perspectives – at the meeting of the specialist divisions for taxi and rental car transport of the Rhineland-Palatinate transport associations on April 3, 2025, the future opportunities of the industry were the focus.

The Transport Ministers' Conference (VMK) was held on April 2 and 3, 2025, in Nuremberg. In advance, the German Taxi and Rental Car Association (TMV) addressed the chairman of the VMK, State Minister Christian Bernreiter (CSU), with a letter to address key concerns of the industry.

On Monday afternoon, April 7, 2025, around 40 taxis gathered in front of the Mercatorhalle in Duisburg. At the same time, the city council was meeting there – discussions inside, demonstrations outside. The drivers were protesting, as they did on March 28, against the growing competitive pressure from platform providers like Uber and Bolt.

Even though the Stuttgart-based company has officially distanced itself from the taxi business, Mercedes-Benz continues to offer a broad range of vehicles that are interesting for use as taxis or rental cars. The Oldenburg taxi manufacturer Intax can currently supply five model series "with a star" badge.

The Federal Association of Taxi and Rental Cars (BVTM) supports the plan of the federal states to start the taxi driver exam this year. The exam should be mandatory for taxi drivers as well as for drivers for platform operators.

The SPD/Volt and Green – Rosa Liste factions in Munich's city hall support a minimum price for rental car traffic. Violations of social standards by Uber & Co. must finally be stopped.

A taxi driver from Holl AG was injured in an attack at Gernsbach train station – investigations are ongoing.

The city of Leipzig is introducing minimum prices for ride services like Uber. The city announced this in its electronic official bulletin (Here is the link to the official bulletin of the city of Leipzig) on April 5, 2025. The German Federal Association of Taxi and Rental Cars (BVTM) expressly welcomes the decision and sees it as a model for other cities in Germany.

With the change at the top of the Bundestag, many associations are hoping for better cooperation with the government. The Taxi and Rental Car Association Germany (TMV) is also taking the opportunity to make its voice heard with the new President of the Bundestag, Julia Klöckner (CDU).

The Taxi München eG, Germany's second-largest taxi center, is embroiled in a deep internal crisis. The conflict between the board and the supervisory board is intensifying after publicly disclosed allegations of potential conflicts of interest led to calls for resignations and ultimately the withdrawal of a long-standing supervisory board member.

There have been recurring reports that BMW and Mercedes-Benz want to sell their joint mobility company. In 2020, there were even rumors that Uber might acquire the mobility service provider. Now it seems that a sale of Freenow is nearing completion. According to the "Manager Magazin," Lyft is said to have won the contract.

On the afternoon of Friday, March 28, 2025, the Burgplatz in front of the Duisburg Town Hall transformed into an impressive gathering of around 80 taxis. The drivers had gathered there to protest against the unfair competition from ride-hailing services like Uber and Bolt and to demand the introduction of minimum prices for rental cars.

The great dramas of our time still exist. No Greek tragedy, no Shakespearean play can compare to what is currently unfolding in the Munich Taxi Cooperative. Intrigue, power struggles, betrayal – the entire arsenal of political skill is being employed here while the real problem remains unanswered: Where is the taxi industry headed?

Following the letter of complaint by the two board members Thomas Kroker and Patrick Nothhaft about alleged Uber collaborations by some members of the Taxi München eG Supervisory Board (we reported), the accused are responding with a letter to the public.

The Taxi Auto Zentrale Stuttgart (TAZ) had only decided in January to collaborate with the mobility service provider Freenow. Freenow CEO Alexander Mönch called it a model for other cities in Germany. Now, TAZ Chairman Iordanis Georgiadis has announced the cooperation with the platform operator Uber.

The Taxi and Rental Car Association (TMV) advocates for the creation of reliable mobility offerings and makes demands to the coalition members of the Union and SPD: For the public transport taxi, more participation, the expansion of local transport, and against Uber & Co.

An important change in the TaBeA project, which is relevant for all drivers: From March 31, all train attendants of Deutsche Bahn can issue digital rail taxi vouchers. The issuance can then already take place on the trains and not just at the station.

Anyone landing at the airport and looking for a ride into the city will be greeted at most taxi stands in Germany by an armada of Toyota hybrid vehicles – hardly any comfortable sedans like the E-Class, almost exclusively practical - but also less premium-looking - Japanese mid-range station wagons.

A new concept for urban mobility is currently being tested in the American city of Detroit. The pilot project "Corktown Carshare" combines remote control of vehicles with traditional driving by the user.

Where in Germany can one find the fastest, best, and most environmentally friendly taxis? Just in time for International Taxi Driver Day on March 22, 2025, Freenow has gathered insights about taxi driving based on the rides mediated through the platform – and there were some surprises in the results.

March 22 is celebrated annually as International Taxi Driver's Day. A date that commemorates the introduction of the first motorized taxi with a taximeter in London in 1907. This day honors the achievements and daily efforts of taxi drivers who make an indispensable contribution to urban mobility worldwide.

On Friday, March 28, 2025, the Taxi-Funktaxi-Zentrale e.G. in Duisburg is planning a demonstration in front of the town hall. Between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM, the members of the cooperative want to draw attention to what they consider an unfair competitive situation caused by ride service providers like Uber and Bolt and advocate for the introduction of minimum prices.

There is unrest in the Munich taxi cooperative Taxi-München eG. At an emergency meeting of the board and supervisory board on March 20, 2025, serious allegations were made. Several supervisory board members are said to be cooperating with the platforms Uber and Bolt – a process that is causing significant tensions within the cooperative.

The development of autonomous vehicle technologies is gaining increasing importance, especially in the ride-sharing sector. A recent analysis by the investment firm Bernstein highlights that the years 2025 and 2026 will be crucial for the transition of autonomous vehicles (AV) from proof of concept to commercial use. This shift could have a lasting impact on the competitive structure of the industry.

(dpa/mv)-The offer has been available in MV for almost a quarter of a century - in paper form. Now, the ticket for young partygoers is experiencing a digital revival as an app.

(dpa/tk) Will there be a significant increase in the statutory minimum wage as early as next year, and what does a minimum wage of 15 euros mean? The consequences could be noticeable for consumers - whether at the hairdresser, in a restaurant, or even during a taxi ride.

As reported by the Eßlinger Zeitung, the Waiblingen district office has increased inspections following ongoing protests by taxi companies against competition from rental cars using the Uber app. The penalties against entrepreneurs working for the American platform operator reach up to 10,000 euros in individual cases.

Autonomous vehicles are intended to make urban traffic more efficient and safer. However, in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Waymo's robotaxis are increasingly coming under scrutiny for parking violations. The vehicles operated by the Alphabet subsidiary received a total of 589 parking tickets for illegal parking in San Francisco alone in 2024. The imposed fines there amounted to 65,065 US dollars.

(dpa/tk) In the wage dispute of public transportation in MV, the signs continue to point to confrontation. The union wants to increase the pressure with further warning strike days this and next week.

The telephony provider Peoplefone Germany has recently started offering a mobile tariff that is ideal for the taxi business: With Mobile-5-Turbo, businesses receive a phone and SMS flat rate to all German networks. The data volume is 5 GB per calendar month, which is more than sufficient for data exchange via a taxi app.

The Taxi and Rental Car Association (TMV) is up in arms against the minimum wage increase to 15 euros proposed by the SPD. According to the TMV, the middle class must absolutely be relieved to avoid the risk of more and more taxi companies having to give up.

Hello Taxi! No question – the Mercedes W123 series is an automotive legend. The top-class model from Swabia is considered timeless, elegant, and indestructible. This is especially true for the 300 Diesel. On a tour through Florida, the ivory-colored exile Swabian attracts attention not only because of its taxi sign on the roof.

Taxi companies that have so far managed their INSIKA data through the Hamburg service provider Tesymex must find a new solution by the end of March. Due to the liquidation of the company, alternatives such as Starksoft, Taxiwin, and Hale are available.

In numerous German cities, municipalities offer vouchers for women to enable discounted taxi rides during nighttime hours. These measures aim to increase the safety of women on their way home at night.

All good things come in threes - ÜSTRA is being struck again! The union ver.di has called for a full-day warning strike on March 13, 2025. The renewed strike represents a certain challenge for the taxi industry - but not a problem.

Mobility means more than just getting from A to B – it can also fulfill special wishes and lead to unforgettable moments. Freenow is continuing its successful "Round Up and Donate" initiative and is now supporting the Wünschewagen project of the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e. V. (ASB).

In three weeks, the time has come – this year's PBefG Symposium, in collaboration with the German Association of Cities, builds on the successes of the last two years: Already 110 representatives from authorities across Germany have registered for the event format with the motto “Update 2025: Securely using PBefG instruments – cities learning from cities.”

Starting from May 1, 2025, taxi rides in the state capital can also be booked at a fixed price. The multi-mobility app Freenow, with a focus on the taxi business, will integrate the new pricing model directly into the app starting May 1.

The private local radio "Die neue Welle" is joyfully reporting that the platform provider Uber is now also available in Karlsruhe. The platform is well-known to most people and has already been active in the city with its delivery service Uber Eats. Karlsruhe - the next city where Uber is challenging the taxi industry.

Berlin has taken on a nationwide pioneering role in securing the future of the taxi and rental car industry, declared Thomas Kroker, President of the Taxi and Rental Car Association Germany (TMV). They welcome the fact that CDU and SPD in the Berlin House of Representatives have jointly set the course for fair competition on the streets of the capital.

The emergency motion in the House of Representatives on Thursday to better protect taxis as a public service was approved by all parties. The Federal Association of Taxis and Rental Cars (BVTM) welcomes the action plan and urges the swift implementation of minimum prices.

In Bamberg, representatives of smaller cities, taxi centers, and cooperatives met at the end of last week for the Anti-Uber Alliance (AUA). With about 60 participants, the first meeting of the community of suffering and interest initiated by Christian Linz from the LVBTM was well attended.

The Taxi and Rental Car Association (TMV) is relying on the new government and emphasizes the desire for cooperation. According to TMV, urgent issues in infrastructure, economy, and administration must be addressed in the new legislative period.

In order to educate about the risks and protective measures of an HIV infection and sexually transmitted infections, the Mühldorf a. Inn Health Department is once again conducting a prevention campaign "Celebrate Carnival - but safely" this year.

The Taxi and Rental Car Association (TMV) makes a clear appeal to the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV). Public mobility with foresight must necessarily include taxis.

A representative survey commissioned by the Federal Association of Taxi and Rental Cars (BVTM) has revealed that 60 percent of Germans support the demands of the taxi associations for minimum prices for platform operators.

The Taxi Center Erlangen and FREENOW have formed a groundbreaking partnership. Through this collaboration, even more taxis can now be conveniently booked via the mobility service provider's app.

(ots) In the first three months (November 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025) of the new fiscal year 2024/2025 at Sunny Cars, it is now apparent that holiday cars are enjoying great popularity this year.

(dpa) Those who sell their car in Frankfurt am Main receive an annual pass for bus and train. Other cities also want to promote the transition in transportation with such or similar incentives.