The ride sharing service Uber plans to expand further in Switzerland, but not as aggressively as in the past, Swiss head Steve Salom says in a newspaper interview.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/mga
Uber is present in Zurich, Basel, Geneva and Lausanne with 300,000 regular customers and some 2,600 drivers in Switzerland, Salom told SonntagsBlick. But it has also run into some difficulties with local authorities, trade unions and taxi drivers who complain of unfair competition.
“Yes, we made mistakes. We wanted to grow too fast, we were too aggressive. Today we are focusing on sustainable growth,” said Salom. “One thing is clear: We want to expand. And Bern is an obvious step. But we will not proceed as we did in the past. We will seek dialogue with the city and cantonal authorities.”
Uber has to negotiate its way through myriad regulations in different jurisdictions, which make Switzerland a particularly challenging place for Uber to operate, Salom admits.
“Switzerland is very proud of its decentralised structure. But it makes it difficult for us,” he said. “On the one hand, we each city has its own laws. On the other hand, there is the higher-level law at federal level. We are therefore faced with several layers of regulation. That makes it very complicated for us. That is why we are not present in more cities.”
Protein in abdominal fat could help shape obesity treatment
This content was published on
The study analysed fat cells from different locations in the body, and found that those in the abdomen have unique properties.
North African asylum claims fall after rapid Swiss processing
This content was published on
The accelerated procedure, now out of its test phase, has resulted in a significant drop in applications from North African countries.
This content was published on
The artist's song "The Code" focuses on their journey as a nonbinary individual. It is one of the favourites to win this year's contest.
Swiss climate activists block vehicles near Gotthard tunnel
This content was published on
Around ten climate activists briefly blocked the A2 motorway near the northern entrance of the Gotthard tunnel on Thursday.
Watches belonging to Michael Schumacher up for auction
This content was published on
Schumacher's family is auctioning off eight rare watches from his collection in Geneva. The Christie's auction will take place on Monday.
Joya Marleen and Baschi named best solo acts at Swiss Music Awards
This content was published on
St. Gallen singer Joya Marleen and Baschi from Basel were named artists of the year at the Swiss Music Awards 2024 on Wednesday night.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Uber recognised as professional ‘call centre’ in Lausanne
This content was published on
The controversial ride-hailing app service Uber now operates with professional drivers and is recognised as a “call centre” in the Lausanne area.
Swiss authorities say Uber drivers should be treated as ‘employees’
This content was published on
The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs has clearly indicated that Uber drivers should be classed as employees rather than self-employed.
This content was published on
The change takes effect on Thursday at midday. Zurich UberPop drivers will have three months to get permits that will allow them to chauffeur passengers for pay under the more expensive UberX and UberBlack services. In a statement on Wednesday, Swiss trade union Unia called the development a “partial success” but questioned why the UberPop…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.