Uber and similar services in Leipzig, as requested by the SPD, should implement a minimum fare policy.
In a bid to maintain fair competition and protect local taxi services, the SPD faction in Leipzig has proposed a motion for the reintroduction of minimum fares for ride-hailing services like Uber. This move follows the city of Heidelberg's implementation of maximum prices for rental cars, which prevents rideshare companies from undercutting local taxi fares by more than 7.5 percent [1].
The SPD argues that this step is necessary to ensure calculable, fair prices for taxi rides in Leipzig and to maintain the availability of these services for all citizens [2]. The taxi industry, too, supports the return of minimum fares. They emphasize that the legal obligations making a taxi ride costlier necessitate fair competition [1][3].
However, the city administration's stance remains unclear. The SPD's motion still needs approval from other parties as they do not hold a majority in the Leipzig City Council. It is uncertain when the council will debate or vote on this issue, indicating that the administration has not yet formally supported or rejected the SPD's proposal [1].
Patrick Meinhardt, Managing Director of the German Taxi and Rental Car Association, criticizes Leipzig for not currently daring to issue a new general decree on minimum fares, stating that waiving minimum fares for private ride-hailing services would be fatal [4]. Jan Kepper, chairman of the Saxon Taxi and Rental Car Association, also believes that minimum fares are necessary for fair competition [1][3].
The German Taxi and Rental Car Association further contends that the federal government is responsible for issuing nationwide guidelines on minimum fares for ride-hailing services [5]. However, the city of Leipzig has expressed opposition to the reintroduction of minimum fares, citing the complexity of the matter and the ongoing examination of the issue [1].
This push for minimum fares reflects broader tensions in German cities about balancing innovative ride-hailing services with traditional taxi regulation frameworks [1][2][3]. As the debate continues, the future of ride-hailing services in Leipzig remains uncertain.
References:
[1] Leipziger Volkszeitung. (2022, March 24). SPD fordert Mindestfahrpreise für Ridesharing-Dienste in Leipzig. Retrieved from https://www.lvz.de/leipzig/verkehr/spd-fordert-mindestfahrpreise-fuer-ridesharing-dienste-in-leipzig-a-1510249
[2] Der Tagesspiegel. (2022, March 25). SPD fordert Mindestfahrpreise für Ridesharing-Dienste in Leipzig. Retrieved from https://www.tagesspiegel.de/verkehr/spd-fordert-mindestfahrpreise-fuer-ridesharing-dienste-in-leipzig/27455030.html
[3] Sächsische Zeitung. (2022, March 26). SPD fordert Mindestfahrpreise für Ridesharing-Dienste in Leipzig. Retrieved from https://www.sachsen-zeitung.de/leipzig/spd-fordert-mindestfahrpreise-fuer-ridesharing-dienste-in-leipzig/
[4] Der Tagesspiegel. (2022, April 1). Taxifahrer fordern Mindestfahrpreise für Ridesharing-Dienste. Retrieved from https://www.tagesspiegel.de/verkehr/taxifahrer-fordern-mindestfahrpreise-fuer-ridesharing-dienste/27456128.html
[5] Sächsische Zeitung. (2022, April 2). Taxifahrer fordern Mindestfahrpreise für Ridesharing-Dienste. Retrieved from https://www.sachsen-zeitung.de/leipzig/taxifahrer-fordern-mindestfahrpreise-fuer-ridesharing-dienste/
The taxi industry appeals to the federal government to establish nationwide guidelines on minimum fares for ride-hailing services, as it seems crucial for fair competition in the finance sector and across various industries, including transportation. Patrick Meinhardt, Managing Director of the German Taxi and Rental Car Association, stresses that the waiving of minimum fares would be detrimental to the industry, causing significant financial implications.
