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Originally, it should have gone into effect in September. But after delays, it was only decided in the National Council in early December and will now go into effect on January 1. We are talking about the new occasional traffic law, which is often referred to in the media as “Lex Uber” because it is intended to regulate the reach of international travel service providers, as well as traditional taxi companies.
Lex Uber brings these changes
The exact design of “Lex Uber” was only known just before the decision and it brings some serious innovations. As of January 1, there will only be one trade: taxis and rental cars will be subject to the same regulations in the future. One of them is that drivers must have a taxi license. In addition, minimum prices apply for trips booked in advance, which, however, must be determined by the individual federal states. It was also decided to make the rates for pre-booked trips more flexible, but this will only take effect in March. Meanwhile, only taxi services with calibrated meters can offer rides.
This also has an impact on Uber’s offerings: “The new law creates an opportunity for mobility service providers like Uber to stay in Austria. However, we have to temporarily pause our UberX service until flexible rates go into effect on March 1, 2021. Until then, however, customers will have the ‘Uber Taxi’ option in the Uber app, ”said the head of Austria, Martin Essl, in a company broadcast.
Uber Austria boss Essl with mixed feelings, angry opposition
Essl explicitly welcomes minimum prices: “A reasonable minimum price gives drivers the assurance that their work is also worth it. We welcome and support this step by the government. The predetermined prices also create transparency and security for consumers. Even before you start your trip, you know what costs to expect. “
The Uber boss naturally has a different attitude towards the taxi license requirement. “For hundreds of car rental companies and their drivers, the new law is a major setback. Although we have established a comprehensive offering to support our partners in the licensing process, many drivers without the proper taxi license will lose their access to the Uber platform due to significantly higher barriers to entry, ”says Essl. And he adds: “The new law creates uniform conditions, but the car rental industry remains at a disadvantage, as rental car drivers must first pass a taxi exam in order to continue working. Additional business areas are being opened for radio control centers and taxi drivers ”.
The opposition parties SPÖ and FPÖ have harshly criticized the modification of the occasional traffic law. You see in “Lex Uber” a clear advantage of the US group and express fears about a possible salary dumping or even a threat to the existence of the taxi industry.
