Uber on the Brink Again in Taiwan | uber taiwan
Amendedtransportationregulationscouldcrippletheride-hailinggiant’sTaiwanbusiness,sendingaworryingmessageabouttheinvestmentclimate.UberhasstruggledinEastAsia.TheSanFrancisco-basedride-hailinggiantburnedthroughbillionsofdollarsbattlingChina’sDidiChuxingbeforebowingoutoftheChinesemarketin2016.ItnevergainedafootholdinJapanorKorea,andlastyearwithdrewfromeightSoutheastAsiancountries.Currently,UbercontinuestoholdsstakesinDidiandSingapore-basedGrab,butitoperatesamajorbusinessofitsowninjusttwoEastAsi...
Amended transportation regulations could cripple the ride-hailing giant’s Taiwan business, sending a worrying message about the investment climate.Uber has struggled in East Asia. The San Francisco-based ride-hailing giant burned through billions of dollars battling China’s Didi Chuxing before bowing out of the Chinese market in 2016. It never gained a foothold in Japan or Korea, and last year withdrew from eight Southeast Asian countries.
Currently, Uber continues to holds stakes in Didi and Singapore-based Grab, but it operates a major business of its own in just two East Asian markets: Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Once again, however, Uber’s ability to operate in Taiwan is at risk due to strong pressure from the politically influential taxi industry. Article 103-1 of the Transportation Management Regulations was amended in June, overturning provisions in force since 2017 that allowed Uber to offer its ride-hailing services through rental-car companies. ...