In Taiwan Uber has a community of 3 millions riders, 10,000 of drivers and over 200 rental car companies. Keeping the community on the road and supporting our valued partners is a responsibility we don’t take lightly.

 

Changing the rules will penalise fully legal businesses and devastate livelihoods

Nearly two years ago we agreed with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) to restart Uber in Taiwan under a new, unique, and fully legal business model partnering with rental car companies. Since then we, and our partners, have demonstrated a clear commitment to do the right thing.

Yet on February 22, the MOTC proposed changes to the existing rental car regulations that, if introduced, would have a devastating impact on our partners’ businesses in Taiwan. The livelihoods of 10,000 drivers and their families, our rental car partners, and Uber’s operations are in the balance.

Extend the consultation process, make it inclusive and give everyone a voice

We are now two weeks from the end of a 60-day consultation process which has unfairly excluded many of those who stand to be affected most. Why are rental car drivers and operators, consumers, and e-hailing platforms like Uber not welcome to provide their views and yet the taxi industry is?

It is clear that without all the key stakeholders at the table the consultation process cannot be called a true consultation, and it will not deliver a fair outcome for all parties. If the changes come into force the government must be prepared to bear the responsibility.

We call on the government to extend the consultation period and to include all of the relevant parties who deserve to have their voices heard. We also give our support to the deeply concerned drivers from the Platform Drivers Alliance who have launched a petition to give consumers their say.

Together it is possible to achieve a solution that doesn’t limit innovative transport options for the future, and one that doesn’t destroy the livelihoods of thousands of people. However we need the government to broker a deal so we can win together. #WinTogether.