Uber's Galicia Expansion Ignites Taxi Driver Protests

Uber's Return to Galicia Sparks Taxi Driver Protests Vigo, Galicia – Uber's plans to expand its services in Galicia have ignited a fierce debate with local taxi drivers. The ride-hailing company is reportedly planning a return to A Coruña and has contacted Vigo's city council to inquire about the possibility of providing urban services. This has raised concerns among taxi drivers who fear unfair competition. The current regulations in Galicia only allow VTCs (vehicles for hire with a driver) to operate for interurban journeys. To operate within a municipality, they require permission from the local council. Uber's inquiry to Vigo's council has been met with a cool response from Mayor Abel Caballero, who stated, "Here we have taxis, and they work wonderfully well. I don't miss anything because the taxis work fantastically well for us." This sentiment echoes the concerns raised by taxi drivers across Galicia. They argue that their service is public, with regulated prices, unlike the dynamic pricing models used by VTC platforms. Emilio Mosquera, president of the Vigo taxi drivers and the Galician Taxi Union, explained, "These platforms don't consider any of those things. In fact, during the big blackout, they charged whatever they wanted, and we worked with the everyday rate." The taxi drivers' association held a meeting in Vigo to highlight their concerns. While Cabify already operates in A Coruña, taxi drivers claim it is undertaking unauthorized urban journeys. The situation underscores the ongoing tension between traditional taxi services and ride-hailing apps in the region. Uber has yet to respond to requests for comment on its plans for Galicia.