Company, business and industry news (other)

The association welcomes the constructive talks with the Lord Mayor, the city administration and the SPD faction, but demands a more consistent application of the PBefG. The focus of the talks were permits, operating bases and the enforcement of the return-to-base obligation.

Three Maextro V800s, three broken brake pedal mounts: An emergency braking test shakes the trust in a Chinese luxury van from the Huawei orbit. Authorities are now investigating — and a fundamental question arises: How much development pace can safety tolerate?

(dpa) Charging instead of fueling: Electric cars are becoming more popular. Worldwide, new registrations even hit a record - despite stagnation in the largest market China.

Since September 2025, Uber has been arranging rides in Ulm and Neu-Ulm. A year later, the question arises as to how much competition the local taxi trade can endure—and whether policymakers and authorities will ensure fair conditions. As passengers benefit from low prices, taxi operators fear for their economic livelihood.

Two electric motors, up to 285 hp and room for large travel groups: With the E-Tourneo Custom AWD, Ford makes its electric large-capacity van fit for snow, inclines and commercial passenger transport. We were on a test drive in the Salzburg region.

The US provider Tensor and the Munich Taxi Center want to bring robotaxis onto German streets. The taxi company is to keep its brand, customers and fleet operations, while Tensor supplies the vehicles and driving software. But before the launch, contracts and approvals must be in place.

China expands testing of automated vehicles: Xpeng is allowed to test its Level-4 robotaxis across the entire urban area of Guangzhou, and Volkswagen collects data in Hefei for Level 3 automated driving.

From January 2027, Berlin taxis at BER airport will no longer be allowed to wait for walk-up passengers. The Dahme-Spreewald district is terminating the agreement with Berlin – and cites declining demand and long idle times. For Berlin's taxi industry, it will become harder to secure further assignments at the airport.

(dpa/tk) London bans cars, buses and taxis from a section of its most famous shopping street. The city aims to make Oxford Street more attractive and to revitalise the retail sector. For the taxi trade, the new pedestrian zone means longer routes, new stops and the question of how passengers can in the future be brought as close as possible to their destination.

Fog, twilight and wet roads increase the risk of accidents – especially for taxi and rental-car drivers who are often on the road in the early morning hours and late evenings. Why the automatic headlight system can be deceptive and what companies should pay attention to regarding lighting and LED retrofitting, explains Christopher Lang, automotive expert at ATU.

While other manufacturers are phasing out diesel, Mercedes is sticking with the diesel engine. The C 250 d T-Model puts 200 hp on the road, drives more comfortably than before, and remains surprisingly restrained in terms of fuel consumption.

The digitization of the taxi trade is moving into the next phase: Taxi.de and Bliq.ai want to connect automated driving features with the infrastructure of established taxi and car rental companies. The idea behind it: new technology should strengthen local operators, rather than displacing them through new platforms.

Less bureaucracy, less protection? The North Rhine-Westphalian industry association VSPV calls on Federal Transport Minister Steffen Bilger not to lower the safety standards for volunteer transport services. Before any changes, the evaluation of the Exemption Regulation, which has been pending since 2021, must take place.

Dumping prices for rental cars, precarious working conditions and the future of autonomous mobility: The Federal Association of Taxi and Rental Cars has spoken with the Green Party politician Tarek Al-Wazir about the challenges of the industry.

Bolt, Stellantis and the Métropole du Grand Paris plan to pilot autonomous ride services from 2028. Initially up to five municipalities are planned; by 2030 the operation could grow to more than 30 municipalities. For taxi companies this poses a central question: Will a new feeder to public transport emerge—or a competitor that competes for the same passengers and contracts?

The Hyundai Staria has attracted attention since its premiere, particularly due to its striking design. The new electric version in particular is likely to be an ideal choice for shuttle services and large families, because the Staria is swift on the road, charges quickly, and offers abundant comfort for fellow travelers.

68 percent of electric car drivers support a general speed limit on German motorways. Among internal-combustion engine drivers, approval is lower. An ACV survey also shows differences between women and men – and why the personal sense of safety does not necessarily match accident statistics.

Frankfurt, Hanau, Offenbach and Rüsselsheim pool their taxi dispatching into a cooperative. The new entity is expected to bring more orders, better technology, and a stronger regional presence. And yet behind the merger lies a delicate constellation.

Approximately 13,000 London taxi drivers wanted to hold Uber to account over allegedly misleading statements regarding the operating license. But the High Court dismissed the class action on procedural grounds. Whether the allegations are true, the court left the question open — the dispute over the rules of the game in British passenger transport thus moves into a new round.

BMW konzentriert sich beim gründlich überarbeiteten 7er insbesondere auf die Elektroversion des i7. Dabei ist gerade das neue Einstiegsmodell des 740 xDrive eine Variante, die sich gegen Elektroversionen und Achtzylinder bestens behaupten kann.

Rising costs, declining hourly revenues and competition from platform operators are putting the taxi trade under pressure. Even long-established entrepreneurs can hardly find a successor. In some cities, there is an oversupply of vehicles adding to the problem. The reasons for the closure of taxi operations are diverse – and they go far beyond fuel prices.

The statutory health insurance system is to become financially more stable. There is nothing objectionable about that for the time being. But the new reimbursement caps place taxi firms under considerable pressure. The industry warns of a cost–revenue gap – and consequences for patient care.

Volkswagen wanted to bring MOIA's autonomous ride service to the cities. But high investments, technical delays, and the difficult search for partners put the plan in doubt. While U.S. providers expand their services, Germany risks losing ground in a future technology.

The City of Munich is taking away more parking spaces from the taxi trade at the main train station. Taxi-München eG accuses the Mobility Department of hindering the provision of passenger services and announces resistance to the decision.

(dpa/jr) For years Elon Musk had promised a rocket car - and the Tesla Roadster now shown can fly a little thanks to cold-gas thrusters. One can't help but wonder: what's the point?

Elon Musk doesn't think much of restraint when it comes to the future of Tesla. For years, he has emphasized that autonomous driving is the key to the success of the electric car manufacturer. Now the controversial e-car pioneer has applied for a ride-hailing license.

The retrofit specialist Adler adds the seven-seat Xpeng X9 to its program. The first Taxi-X9 makes a stop at the taxi trade fair - and then goes to a customer from Munich.

The Mobility Association honors the former Federal Minister of Transport with a certificate of appreciation. Managing Director Sascha Waltemate and Patrick Meinhardt, Head of the Capital Office, highlight the close cooperation and open discussions about the future of the industry.

The VSPV has personally handed over its position paper on the reform of the Passenger Transport Act to Federal Minister of Transport Steffen Bilger. The association calls for a reorientation of regulation: away from historical distinctions between taxi and rental cars, toward a digital mobility system with clearly defined tasks.

The quick refueling or charging process is no longer enough for many drivers. Coffee, sandwiches and warm snacks have now become a standard part of stopping at the gas pump for many customers. A recent survey shows what consumers value in this regard — and how much they are willing to spend on it.

The European taxi trade fair continues to grow: In early November, Hall 1 at Koelnmesse will become the meeting point for taxi and rental car companies from across Europe. In addition to 93 exhibitors, political debates, future mobility topics, and a raffle with a BYD Seal Plug-in Hybrid as the grand prize are on the agenda.

An autonomous taxi in Shenzhen becomes a painful trap for a passenger: Three fingers are pinched in the door, but neither the vehicle nor the bystanders can resolve the situation immediately. The incident shows that autonomous mobility still reaches its limits when it comes to everyday problems.

The VSPV awarded the Berlin transport policy-maker Tino Schopf a certificate of appreciation. In doing so, the association honors his long-standing commitment to fair competitive conditions, the rule of law, and the interests of taxi and rental-car companies.

More than one in three new cars in Germany is now fully electric. While Tesla and Chinese manufacturers are making strong gains, many established brands are under pressure. The shift to electromobility is changing the automotive market faster than expected.

The new fuel discount should relieve motorists in light of the record prices for petrol and diesel. But just a few days after the launch, prices are rising again. The ADAC says that the relief is melting away even faster than expected.

35 years as a taxi operator, good revenues – and still no successor. A letter to Taxi Today illustrates, by example, how difficult the generational shift in the taxi industry has become. The industry does not lack tasks, but increasingly lacks people who are willing to bear the entrepreneurial risk.

Time and again, cases are reported in Germany in which taxi drivers become victims of threats, fare fraud, or physical assaults. A recent case from Nuremberg again shows the risks drivers on Germany's roads are exposed to – often because of comparatively small sums of money.

Anyone in Heidelberg, Dachau, Erding, Freising or Amberg who orders a taxi via the Freenow app will be able to know the fare in advance of the ride. With the introduction of new fixed-price regulations, the municipalities are counting on greater price transparency—and on stronger competitiveness of the taxi industry.

Anyone who wants to get around in the Bavarian Forest often needs more than just a timetable. Between small villages, long distances, and fluctuating demand, classic line services quickly reach their limits. The Regen district has therefore, since 1 September, been relying on a new concept for demand-responsive transport—and on digital support from Hanover.

The EU is taking more time to evaluate Tesla's driver-assistance system "Full Self-Driving (Supervised)". A decision originally expected for October has been postponed. For the introduction of the technology in Europe, this means further months of uncertainty – and shows how controversial automated driving is still being discussed.

The electrification of vehicle fleets is seen as the key to the transport transition. At the Urban Charge Conference in Cologne, however, it became clear: For the taxi and rental car industry, not only new technologies determine success, but above all reliable policy framework conditions and a nationwide charging infrastructure.

Bus and rail are regarded as the backbone of public transport. But in many places, traditional scheduled services no longer suffice to meet people's mobility needs. A new summit, organized by BVTM, therefore aims to open up the debate—and to bring taxis, on-demand services, and new mobility forms more into focus.

Following the deadly accident of a ten-year-old boy during a medical transport in Baden-Württemberg, the case is once again before the courts. The legal investigation brings to the fore a question that has always accompanied the taxi trade: What responsibility do drivers bear when they transport people who cannot protect themselves?

Autonomous driving is regarded as one of the major future topics of mobility. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is now linking the technology with another goal: more independence for people who use wheelchairs. At Rehacare 2026 in Düsseldorf, the manufacturer presented a concept that aims to enable access to autonomous shuttles without external help.

Das Taxi fährt vielerorts bereits dort, wo Busse selten unterwegs sind. Der Mobilitätsverband VSPV fordert deshalb, Taxis künftig stärker als Bestandteil des öffentlichen Nahverkehrs zu nutzen. Bei einem Treffen mit dem Bundestagsabgeordneten Henning Rehbaum warb der Verband für das Konzept des ÖPNV-Taxis und einen neuen Blick auf die Mobilität im ländlichen Raum.

In autumn the evaluation of the Passenger Transport Act (PBefG) is on the political agenda. The mobility association VSPV gets involved early in the debate and has handed a position paper to the CDU transport politician Michael Donth. The experiences of the past five years are at the center — and the demand for greater legal certainty for municipalities and the business sector.

Autobahn pilots and automated driving functions are increasingly making their way into modern vehicles. But many drivers overestimate the capabilities of the technology – and underestimate their own duties. A look at the Road Traffic Act shows why the responsibility in 2026 remains with the human behind the wheel.

After the election to the Berlin House of Representatives, the SPD loses its traffic expert Tino Schopf. The North Rhine-Westphalia mobility association VSPV responds to this with clear criticism and calls on the SPD leadership to continue relying on his expertise in transport and mobility policy.

The introduction of new requirements for taximeters and trip meters is drawing closer. At the Lower Saxony Taxi and Rental Car Day in Bad Nenndorf, the BVTM made clear that it deems amendments necessary in the planned cash-register law. The central question is whether the same rules should apply to all modes of transport.

Modern electric cars are already rolling computers. A Norwegian longitudinal study now raises questions about the data traffic of Chinese vehicles. This makes a topic all the more important for taxi, rental car and fleet operators, one that has largely been in the background until now: Who actually has access to the data from a connected vehicle?

The new Lexus ES arrives in 2026 with two faces: as a traditional full hybrid and, for the first time, also as a battery-electric sedan. Both are priced the same; both target company car drivers and taxi operators. But on the road it quickly becomes clear that the Japanese, precisely with the electric drive, have found their more convincing answer to the German business class.

How can taxi fares be made digitally available and taxi stands be found more easily? During the NRW.MOBIDROM GmbH's open house day, the VSPV discussed with authorities, municipalities and mobility service providers about data provision, digital infrastructure and the future of mobility-related information in NRW..

Autonomous taxis are on the rise in Europe. Since September they are also being tested in London. While public interest is growing rapidly, the crucial question remains the same: Can passengers trust an artificial intelligence at the wheel?

Rising wages, higher operating costs and a new statutory cap on remuneration are putting patient transport under pressure. At an action day in Ahlen, lawyers and industry representatives discussed the consequences of the GKV Contribution Rate Stabilization Act—and the question of whether patient transports can still be provided economically in the future.

Autonomous shuttle buses are already operating in Hamburg, Paderborn, and soon also in the Rhine-Main region. But the real bottleneck no longer lies in the vehicle technology. Public transport operators, authorities and manufacturers are now working to clear an obstacle from the path that could determine the future of autonomous mobility: the approval procedure.

Rising costs for patient transport, the competition with platform-mediated rental cars, and the design of public tenders occupied the annual Taxi and Rental Car Conference in Bad Kreuznach. Associations, entrepreneurs, and licensing authorities discussed, above all, one question: How can fair competition be ensured before problems arise?

Taxi companies can apply for the use of the public taxi stands at the train station until the end of October 2026. If there are more than 15 valid applications, a scoring system will decide.

The cost curve in the taxi and rental-car industry continues to rise. The Rhineland Association of the Transport Industry warns of growing economic risks and calls on both health insurance funds and the licensing authorities to act. At the center are patient transports, taxi fares, and the question of how mobility should be funded in the future.

92 countries, almost 100,000 kilometers and not a single technical defect: With a production-spec VW ID. Buzz, the record-setting driver Rainer Zietlow has circumnavigated the world. The tour provides an unusually pragmatic argument in a debate about electric mobility that is often ideologically driven.

Hardly any state-level politician has in recent years engaged so intensively with the challenges of Berlin's taxi trade as Tino Schopf. The SPD transport-policy politician repeatedly advocated for stricter controls in the rental car market, supported the introduction of a minimum fare, and participated in numerous discussions on the regulation of platform-mediated passenger transport. On Sunday, he is once again running for a seat in the Berlin House of Representatives.