Uber Car Service: UberPop remains banned in Germany – SPIEGEL ONLINE

The controversial taxi deal UberPop remains banned in Germany. This was decided by the Higher Regional Court Frankfurt. The judges thus confirmed a judgment of the Landgericht Frankfurt, had gone against the Uber appeal. The plaintiff was the association taxi Germany.

Is Uber thus disappeared from German roads? As the taxi lobby rated the verdict? The most important questions and answers at a glance.

What’s UberPop?

In UberPop offer individuals taxi rides with their own car. book Customer and pay for the trip through the Uber app. However, the drivers lack the license to offer commercial trips, the judges.

What does this judgment

The court has confirmed: The business model of UberPop is illegal in Germany to the Passenger Transport Act. Accordingly, the driver must demonstrate, among other things, that they are healthy and know the roads in their city.

Because at UberPop everyone could offer without testing rides, the service was much cheaper than traditional taxis. This is no longer possible. Ubers greatest competitive advantage is to go

For consumers, nothing changes. Uber had UberPop set last year in Germany, after the defeat before the Landgericht Frankfurt in March 2015. “The process has no influence on our business in Germany “, an uber spokesman said yet

This may sound optimistic, clear, however:. who bites at the laws throughout Europe teeth out. A Paris court on Thursday imposed a fine of 800,000 euros to the company, also due UberPop. In Belgium, Italy and Holland defeated Uber already in court.

Is Uber thus disappeared from German roads?

No, but the company finds it difficult , In Berlin, users can via Uber book ordinary taxi and pay the regular taxi fare. However here make a number of other apps like MyTaxi, taxi or Germany Taxi.de Uber competition -. And there partially already longer and in far more cities

In Munich, the company tried another model with UberX here Uber gives the customers a chauffeur service. Unlike UberPop the US group checked whether the drivers have the necessary permits. Prices range according to a test of financial tip depending on the route between three and twelve percent below the normal taxi fare.

However, Uber lags behind his own plans. In May 2015, the Group UberX announced yet for Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Berlin. There are now only concrete plans for Berlin, where UberX to start in June.

What does the taxi lobby?

As expected, rejoiced the traditional taxi companies. The Passenger Transport Act serves to protect consumers, said the chairman of Taxi Germany, Dieter Schlenker, according to a statement.

The taxi operators have gotten rid of by the success in court an annoying, significantly cheaper competitors. While taxi Germany speaks of unfair competition, argues Uber, it can utilize the car better by its algorithm and is therefore cheaper.

What happens next?

Uber has nor the opportunity to go against the judgment in revision, the Bundesgerichtshof would decide the matter.

The Californian company will initially only put in future on licensed drivers – and hopes that the laws for chauffeur services are facilitated. So should not be considered, inter alia, the local knowledge of the driver, said the Uber spokesman. “It is in times of navigation devices is no longer necessary nor useful, because modern systems route traffic much better.”

The resistance of the taxi lobby is Uber on this point too sure. It will not be the last trial.