Licensed-via-acquisition? Taxify's ride hail under scrutiny in UK
Taxify, which has recently launched its app-based minicab service in London, is facing investigation from the city's transport authority. Transport for London (TfL) has not approved a licence for the company, which is competing with Uber across European cities. Instead, Taxify has acquired an existing licensed minicab company, which now trades under the Taxify brand. Union leaders have complained about the arrangement, which they say is in breach of the law. TfL recently renewed licences for Uber and Addison Lee to operate in the city, but reduced their terms from five years to just six months.
Uber rival Taxify is being investigated by Transport for London TfL says Taxify doesn't have a licence. Taxify agrees, but says it bought a company that does.

Unlike other world cities, London is a pretty supportive place when it comes to transport innovation. Transport for London (TfL) has attempted to keep the peace as traditional taxi companies battle it out with private hire challengers like Uber, imposing new rules that ensure service levels remain high no matter what vehicle members of the public choose to ride in.

Earlier this week, Uber's London division found itself in new company thanks to Taxify, a private hire firm that has already made waves across Europe. It promised lower fares and higher payments for drivers, but its arrival has been marred by controversy. City A.M reports that TfL is now "urgently investigating" Taxify because it isn't a "licensed private hire operator" and could be operating in London without the necessary clearance.

As it stands, Taxify doesn't have direct approval from TfL. However, it has navigated around the issue by purchasing City Drive Services, a private hire service that already operates in London and has its own licence until 2019. Taxify says it provides its "app-based booking service" to City Drive Services, which "legally" owns the contracts with drivers, according to Taxify CEO Markus Villig.

Taxify's driver terms clearly state that City Drive Services trades under the Taxify name. They also state that the Taxify platform "enables users to compare, select from and/or reserve vehicular transportation directly from and with a variety of participating suppliers."

Wired reports that union representatives aren't happy about the arrangement, either. In a letter to Transport for London and London's deputy mayor for transport, GMB secretary Steve Garelick said that Taxify's decision to acquire its way into London and not advise TfL of a change to licencing conditions appeared "incompatible with the law" and questioned whether the startup was "fit and proper" to hold a licence in the capital.

TfL's investigation comes shortly after it reissued licences for Uber and Addison Lee to continue their operations. In the past, the authority has issued five year extensions but this time cut them to six months as it mulls over whether to increase licencing costs in order to cover the increasing amount of resources it needs to regulate private hire companies. That won't be good news for Daimler and US ride-hailing company Via, which are set to launch a city-wide shuttle service later this year.