It's a small revolution for Uber Taxiless than three years after its launch on the streets of Paris. The platform has just announced a new feature that should boost its take-up, particularly among business travellers. The fare will now be known in advance, and will no longer depend on the meter. With one important nuance: if, at the destination, the taximeter price is lower than the estimated price, the customer will pay the lower price.
In fact, as an Uber spokeswoman reminds us, " Taximeter regulations do not oblige taxis to charge the fare, but they are maximum prices, not fixed by law. So the customer will always pay the lowest fare between the estimated fare and the taximeter. That's 100% winning ".
When interviewed by Voyages d'Affaires a few weeks ago, Franck Monsauret reminded us of the difference that remained between VTC and taxi services: " People don't always know it, but there are taxis available via the Uber application. There are now more than 3,000 taxis in the Paris region. That makes Uber the second largest taxi platform. However, there are still differences. For example, taxis can use bus lanes. For a business traveller stuck in front of Gare du Nord, for example, this is a real advantage! Fares also differ, as the taximeter is used at the end of the journey. The use of taximeters is becoming more and more widespread, and there is a new level of trust with taxi drivers, who have realised that they have complete freedom of choice. "In the words of the Managing Director of Uber for Business for France, DACH, Northern and Eastern Europe. By eliminating one of the differences mentioned, Uber Taxi is taking another step forward in its desire to "reconcile the advantages of the traditional taxi with the fluid and transparent experience of the American application".
Business customers will benefit mathematically from greater transparency, as demonstrated by Laureline Serieys, General Manager of Uber in France : " The difficulty of anticipating the fare for a journey is a major obstacle for potential taxi users - and a loss of earnings for drivers. With Uber Taxi, users can book a journey with a precise price calculated in advance. This gives them the transparency they are looking for to help them control their travel budget. It's also a major opportunity for the 3,000 taxi drivers on our platform, who can optimise their business and access a wider customer base. ".
This rate change is based on the experience acquired by Uber Taxi since its arrival in Paris in October 2022. Or, to be more precise, by the data collected over the months by its algorithm. The algorithm has been able to refine the calculation of the right price by integrating the multiple parameters to be taken into account. These include the fares in zones A, B and C, depending on the zone, time and day, the speed of the vehicle, traffic conditions, specific airport fares, and of course the distance and duration of the journey. With some 3,000 taxis 500 by 2022 - Uber Taxi has already established itself as the second-largest application in France.
