Uber settles Taiwan row with new taxi service

Uber will form a new taxi-hailing service in Taiwan, following a compromise reached with the country’s Transport Ministry.

The ride-hailing service had been in dispute with the Taiwanese government and cab drivers, due to its perceived negative impact on the traditional taxi industry and taxation issues.

But Taiwan News reports that the company has now agreed to create UberTaxi, which will enable Taiwanese passengers to order a traditional yellow taxi via Uber’s app. The service will initially be available in Taipei.

Ku Li-kai, general manager of Uber Taiwan, was reported saying that the upcoming launch of UberTaxi demonstrates how Uber and traditional taxis can co-exist in the local market. Taxi drivers had previously held protests against the presence of Uber.