Australia and USA join the GTN Taxi Times Update 2015-02-23

What`s new in the taxi world? Our bilingual ‘update’ summarises the international news of the last days and hours. As some of the links are in foreign languages, we recommend using a website translator.

The good news

GTN is growing: Taxi associations from US and Australia join the IRU and the Global Taxi Network (GTN)

http://www.taxiintelligence.com/tlpa-and-atia-join-gtn/

International News

An up and down at Uber: Since our last update, the US company has been hitting the headlines again. Here are some examples:

Brussels new Taxi Plan opens door for UberPOP

http://www.taxiintelligence.com/new-brussels-taxi-plan-something-for-everyone/

Brussel’s taxi industry wasn’t happy with the idea and organised a demonstration.

http://www.taxiintelligence.com/djump-and-uber-happy-with-taxi-plan-taxi-sector-demonstrates/

Uber`s internet-adress will be blocked in India

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emerging-businesses/startups/delhi-government-in-consultation-with-centre-to-block-ubers-internet-address/articleshow/46362285.cms

Uber’s expansion halted in Germany

http://www.wiwo.de/unternehmen/dienstleister/taxi-branche-uber-verzichtet-in-deutschland-auf-expansion/11436176.html

The BZP, the association of taxis and cars for private hire in Germany, responded with a press release.

http://bzp.org/Content/INFORMATION/Pressemitteilungen/_BZP_zum_Stopp_der_Uber-Expansion_in_Deutschland.php

Uber’s denial came the next day.

http://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/handel-konsumgueter/fahrdienste-verwirrspiel-um-ubers-expansionsplaene/11438484.html

A large-scale data breach

http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-data-breach-2015-2

Quote of the day

„Uber waited five months before telling its drivers their personal data had been compromised. Yet again, this shows Uber’s complete disdain for the concerns of protecting private data.“

Dave Sutton, spokesperson  ‚Who’s Driving You?‘

International News

Taxi App Ola takes over Taxiforsure: A large taxi app in India swallows its smaller competitor.

http://techcrunch.com/2015/03/02/olaforsure/

Automobile news

The Geneva Motor Show: Take a look at the following overview of the most important premieres for the taxi industry.

Volkswagen bringing new Touran minivan – Neuer VW Touran

http://www.autoblog.com/2015/02/25/2016-vw-touran-geneva-official/

Mercedes Reveals V-Class Concept Vision PHEV

http://www.carscoops.com/2015/03/mercedes-reveals-v-class-concept-vision.html

The new Skoda Superb

http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/news/143635/skoda-superb-price-saloon-will-start-at-18640

News from Germany

A taxi with 250 HP: The first Porsche taxi is now operating in Munich.

http://www.tz.de/muenchen/stadt/porsche-taxi-muenchen-4764382.html

Only one windscreen wiper rated ‘good’ in cold conditions: The latest test conduced by the German ADAC automobile club shows that the more expensive beam blades are not always better than cheaper windscreen wipers.

http://www.auto-news.de/ratgeber/tipps_tests/anzeige_ADAC-Scheibenwischertest-In-der-Kaelte-ist-nur-einer-gut_id_36360

Shared taxi in Jena will become cheaper: The additional fee for hailing a shared taxi has been lowered as of 1 March 2015. Passengers will now pay only €1 instead of €3 in addition to the regular ticket.

http://www.jenaer-nachrichten.de/stadtleben/1496-zuschlag-f%C3%BCr-anruf-sammel-taxi-in-jena-sinkt

News from Austria

First e-taxi in Upper Austria: Johann Haslinger is the proud owner.

http://www.meinbezirk.at/wels/chronik/e-autos-pioniere-auf-den-strassen-d1258544.html

Our very own look at things

The current Forbes list – a list of the richest people in the world – has a prominent newcomer: Uber’s founder Travis Kalanick has a fortune amounting to USD 5.3 billion. Our opinion at Taxi Times is: That’s a slap in the face for everyone who earns their money through honest work.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/technology/forbes-billionaires-list-founders-of-uber-car-app-travis-kalanick-and-garrett-camp-make-first-appearance-31034862.html