Waymo accelerates London rollout despite US safety probe Tech Waymo is stepping up preparations for its UK rollout after its driverless vehicles were spotted on the streets of London, as the Alphabet-owned firm faces safety scrutiny in the US. The self-driving vehicle firm has confirmed it is testing its robotaxis in the capital ahead of a planned passenger launch this year, marking its second [...]
Uber prices set to soar as ministers introduce VAT crackdown Prices on ride hailing apps like Uber are set to soar, after the government ploughed ahead with a promise to apply VAT to online mini cab companies despite warnings from the industry that the move would worsen the cost of living. From Friday, private hire vehicle operators in London will no longer be able to [...]
LEVC: London electric taxi company loses £180m Transport and infrastructure LEVC, the London electric taxi company, lost almost £180m during its latest financial year as its sales were slashed. The Coventry-headquartered electric taxi maker, which is also known as London EV Company, has reported a pre-tax loss of £179.4m, according to new accounts filed with Companies House. The business, which is owned by Chinese automotive [...]
Bolt: Uber rival’s profit almost wiped out as legal battles drag on September 18, 2025 Profit at the UK arm of Uber rival Bolt was almost wiped out during its latest financial year as it diverted considerable resources to its on-going legal battles. The online taxi firm has reported a pre-tax profit of £133,355 for 2024, down from the £8.2m it achieved in 2023. The business had previously made a [...]
Uber’s UK arm warns on profit amid rising costs September 5, 2025 Uber has warned it may not remain profitable in the UK because of rising costs despite its revenue surging by more than £1bn during its latest financial year. The US giant has said it will need to generate and sustain increased revenue levels while lowering proportionate expenses in the coming years “to achieve profitability in [...]
Uber rivals handed major VAT boost by Supreme Court July 29, 2025 Rival taxi operators to Uber will not have to pay 20 per cent VAT on their profits outside London following a landmark Supreme Court ruling. The court has decided that private-hire operators do not enter into a contract with passengers and therefore are except from the tax. The ruling comes after US giant Uber brought [...]
Bolt: Uber rival appoints first UK boss May 8, 2025 Bolt, the Estonian ride-hailing platform, has appointed a new UK boss in a sign of its intention to double down on its second biggest market. Kimberly Hurd will join as the company’s first senior general manager for the UK, following stints in the fintech sector and at the Indian food delivery app Zomato. Top of [...]
Black cabs stand ready to compete with Uber, but not in a race to the bottom April 24, 2025 The London tax trade is a rigged market where app-based operators have enjoyed years of political indulgence while black cabs are subjected to an ever-tougher regulatory environment, says Mark White James Ford’s recent City AM column – ‘The London taxi trade is dying – and it’s not Uber’s fault’ – is less a diagnosis than [...]