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While in Berlin the political stage is being set for the election of the new Federal Chancellor, the German Taxi and Rental Car Association (BVTM) meets on May 6 in Darmstadt for the general meeting. A symbolic moment that draws attention to the future of the taxi industry.

With the acquisition of Freenow by the American ride-sharing service Lyft for around 175 million euros, the European taxi industry is facing a significant upheaval. Freenow now cooperates with numerous taxi centers in Germany. At the beginning of the collaboration with the Hamburg taxi centers Funktaxi Bergedorf and Taxi Alstertal, we were at the German Freenow headquarters in Hamburg.

"Minimum wage now" with this demand, accompanied by loud protests, over 500 taxi drivers demonstrated in front of the Munich town hall yesterday, Monday, against the price and social dumping by Uber and Bolt in the Bavarian capital.

A new Minister of Transport takes office – and old topics are back on the table. Patrick Schnieder, CDU politician from Rhineland-Palatinate, will take over the Federal Ministry of Transport. The Taxi and Rental Car Association of Germany (TMV) has taken the opportunity to convey the industry's wishes and expectations to the future minister at an early stage.

Originally, the Munich city council was supposed to decide on the introduction of minimum transportation fares for rental cars in April. However, the item was removed from the agenda at short notice. There are said to be too many open questions. The decision has now been postponed – to the next meeting in about four weeks.

The car drives up, the door opens – no one is sitting at the wheel. What sounded like science fiction years ago is now rolling onto the asphalt in some US cities. And Volkswagen wants to join in: By the end of this year, the test phase for the ID.Buzz AD, an autonomous version of the well-known electric minibus, is set to begin in Los Angeles. No less a partner on this journey than Uber.

Electric cars are considered quiet, locally emission-free – and for some still a risky compromise in everyday life. For the taxi industry, which often balances between efficiency and reliability, the electric vehicle long seemed a gamble. But a look at Hamburg shows: Times have changed.

The Labo (State Office for Citizens' and Regulatory Affairs) is checking the taxi fleets on mediation platforms and taking decisive action against the "black sheep." However, Uber & Co. have, of course, already found a loophole.

Around 80 taxis participated in an impressive procession through downtown Mainz yesterday. The aim of the demonstration was to draw attention to the increasingly existentially threatening impacts of unfair business practices by platform providers like Uber – and at the same time to engage in dialogue with representatives from politics, administration, and the public.

An alliance of platform operators, ride service brokers, and lobby groups is currently loudly warning against minimum prices for rental car trips in Munich. Because when - as in the petition of the association wirfahren - there is talk of "price madness", one should take a closer look at who is actually speaking - and in whose interest.

With the new Ford Custom and the innovative Long Cut rear cutout, AMF-Bruns once again sets standards in the field of barrier-free vehicle solutions. The specially developed conversion enables flexible and comfortable transportation of up to two wheelchair users.

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.

From the outside, Dubai seems made for smooth transitions – from desert sand to a shiny skyline, from oil to solar power, from traditional taxis to electric chauffeurs. Now, the city on the Persian Gulf is further upgrading its fleet and is preparing to bring the taxi of tomorrow onto the streets today – with and without drivers.

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.

(dpa) The deployment statistics of the traffic club's breakdown assistants also suggest that the lead is increasing. The most common cause of breakdowns was the usual suspect - regardless of the drive system.

(dpa) Waymo's robotaxis (mostly) navigate comfortably through the dense traffic in U.S. cities like San Francisco or Los Angeles. However, a fast-food restaurant drive-thru was insurmountable for one of the cars.

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.

A car that has been idling for a long time doesn't necessarily need a new engine. Sometimes it's enough to change the driver – or get rid of the passenger. In political Berlin, the Ministry for Digital and Transport was such a misappointment for a long time: a technocratic hybrid with too many tasks and too little direction. Now it has been decoupled, and relief is spreading in the passenger transport industry.

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.

(dpa) 17 Teslas go up in flames on the night of Monday. The fire department in Rome responds with a large contingent. It could be a targeted arson attack.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is known for ambitious visions. One of them: Tesla owners could rent out their vehicles as autonomous taxis in the future, thus earning a lucrative side income. However, this idea will not withstand reality.

(dpa) Slumps in profits and savings programs: German car manufacturers have had a difficult year. A new analysis shows that they have performed worse than many competitors.

In a joint letter from the Action Alliance Economic Warning Day to the leaders of the Union and the SPD, tax relief for German companies is being demanded. According to TMV, it is about protecting competition and strengthening the economy.

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.

The European Union is investigating possible unlawful subsidies by China for the planned factory of electric car manufacturer BYD in Hungary. Should the suspicion be confirmed, the company could face significant consequences.

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.

(dpa) The electric aviation industry has not really gained much momentum so far. Following Lilium, financial difficulties are leading a second start-up to the district court.

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.

The trade fair has been held every two years in November for decades. After a one-time break, the fair last opened its doors again in Cologne in November 2024. FPN Managing Director Dr. Michael Stehr presented the contract for the Taxi Fair 2026 in the cathedral city.

(dpa/sn) - High electricity prices and lack of incentives: Many people hesitate to buy an electric car. An industry representative holds politics responsible for the uncertainty and calls for clear incentives.

(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.

Tesla wants to produce its autonomous Robo-Taxi Cybercab not only in the USA but also in Europe. According to a report by the specialist portal Edison, the vehicle is to be manufactured in the company's Gigafactory in Grünheide, Brandenburg. However, when it will be approved for European roads is still open.

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.