Member Article

London black cabs take on Uber with new app

London’s famous Black Cabs have announced price cuts for journeys over six miles in an attempt to fightback against Uber and other app-based taxi services.

The new prices, which will be up to 30 per cent cheaper than standard metered fares, can be booked through an app launched by an Israeli startup.

Backed by Russian-born billionaire Len Blatavik, the Gett app will apply discounts to the traditional London taxi service on weekdays between 10am and 4pm, 8pm and 11pm, and 2am and 6am.

Remo Gerber, chief executive of Gett in the UK, said: “Some taxi apps charge more when they’re busy. We think this is unfair so we make fares cheaper when we’re quieter.”

Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, said: “Taxi drivers cannot work at the prices Uber drivers do. [But this] is something the industry has wanted to offer for a some time. We just haven’t had the technology to do it.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .