Criticism from IHK Munich and Upper Bavaria towards taxis for lowering the minimum charge on taxi-like service fares
In the bustling city of Munich, Germany, the debate surrounding fair competition in the transport sector has taken a new turn. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) for Munich and Upper Bavaria, led by CEO Manfred Goessl, has advocated for equal rules for all market participants.
The current regulatory landscape in Munich distinguishes traditional taxis, subject to stringent licensing and fare controls, from ride-hailing services like Uber, which have historically been treated as rental car services. This regulatory gap has been seen as unfair competition and a threat to the traditional taxi industry.
In an effort to level the playing field, the city's authorities are planning to introduce a minimum fare for ride-hailing services, including Uber. This move aims to address the unregulated pricing and operational flexibility of ride-hailing services, which undermine the regulated taxi sector.
The IHK supports these measures, believing they are crucial to ensuring fair competition and safeguarding taxi drivers’ livelihoods. Goessl emphasises the importance of rights and obligations being balanced for all competitors, and warns that as long as politics in Germany regulates public transport, the rules must be the same for all competitors.
However, the IHK chief's statement does not express a view on the minimum fare proposal specifically. Instead, it highlights the need for a joint approach from local politics and a timely discussion on the matter. The IHK hopes for a clear commitment to fair rules that will help integrate new digital mobility services into established transport frameworks while balancing innovation, affordability, and fair market conditions.
The distortion of the market is particularly evident at the airport and the exhibition center, where publicly regulated taxis with mandatory transport and price regulations compete with unregulated taxi-like services. The IHK chief welcomes the diversity of mobility options in the city but emphasises that fair competition requires equal rules for all market participants.
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria has expressed disappointment at the current regulatory gap, and calls for a joint approach from local politics to address this issue. By advocating for fair competitive conditions for all market participants, the IHK aims to ensure a thriving and sustainable transport sector in Munich.
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) for Munich and Upper Bavaria, led by CEO Manfred Goessl, has extended its advocacy beyond the transport sector, also focusing on the finance and business arena. Goessl suggests that equitable rules for all competitors, not just in the transport industry but also in finance and business, are vital to foster a thriving and competitive market in Munich. This approach aims to maintain a balance between innovation, affordability, and fair market conditions across all sectors.
In an effort to encompass a broader perspective, the IHK emphasizes the need for a joint approach from local politics to discuss and implement fair rules that can accommodate new digital services, not just in the transport industry, but also in finance and business, ensuring a sustainable future for these sectors in Munich.
