Uber’s motorcycle service pilot in Beitou has exposed the gap between local transportation needs and Taiwan’s existing regulations. The controversy presents an opportunity to develop a safer, fairer, and more flexible framework for digital platforms.
Food delivery is serious business in Taiwan. Although the government’s superb handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has allowed most restaurants to remain open across the island, the National Credit Card Center reported that in April 2020, 6 million transactions were logged on Online Food Delivery (OFD) platforms, a sevenfold increase from the same month a…
Strong demand for the service could help offset the hit to Uber’s ride-hailing business as a result of the pandemic. The two aspects of Uber’s operations in Taiwan show the very different effects that the coronavirus pandemic can have on business. With few foreign tourists around since Taiwan closed its borders to non-residents on March…
The company will face more constraints under the government’s multi-purpose taxi program than it did partnering with rental-car companies. Uber Technologies’ experience in Taiwan is a cautionary tale that reveals much about how new business models and challenges to industry incumbents are perceived in this market. Although Uber boosted competition, created jobs, and raised the…
Food Delivery Platforms Face New Scrutiny Food delivery online service providers Foodpanda and Uber Eats are in hot water after it was found that the companies either did not adequately report the fatal crashes of two of their delivery drivers, or did not do so in a timely manner. Two incidents in early October involved…
Amended transportation regulations could cripple the ride-hailing giant’s Taiwan business, sending a worrying message about the investment climate. Uber has struggled in East Asia. The San Francisco-based ride-hailing giant burned through billions of dollars battling China’s Didi Chuxing before bowing out of the Chinese market in 2016. It never gained a foothold in Japan or…
The ride-hailing app is now partnering with licensed car-rental companies in Taiwan. Ride-hailing app Uber returned to Taiwan in April after a two-month suspension of its services, this time in partnership with licensed car-rental companies. In a break with Uber’s standard business model, drivers’ companies set the fares – and non-professional drivers are barred from…
Uber Returns to Taiwan Market Two months after hitting pause on its Taiwan operations, Uber is back running in Taipei under a new business model. The popular ride-hailing service surprised the local market announcing it had formed a new partnership with car rental companies. Uber suspended its Taiwan operations on Feb. 10 after incurring fines of up to NT$328.5…
Massive fines have forced the popular ride-hailing app to suspend its Taiwan operations from February 10. In Taiwan, the end of the road for Uber came swiftly. The ride-hailing app juggernaut, which is the world’s largest startup by valuation, suspended services here in February after being fined more than NT$1 billion (around US$31 million) in…
The company’s Taiwan business is still growing despite being in regulatory limbo and facing mounting opposition from lawmakers and the taxi industry. Brittany Holtsinger swears by Uber. The Taipei-based digital marketing strategist uses the ride-hailing app four to five times a week, opting for a taxi only when Uber’s rush-hour surcharges make its prices less…
