[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] From now on, when you call Uber in New York, a yellow taxi will arrive. The ride-hailing service company Uber has partnered with the New York taxi industry, with which it has clashed for years.
The New York Times (NYT) and others reported on the 24th (local time) that Uber has signed a partnership to register all New York City taxis, known as "Yellow Cabs," so they can be called through its application.
Accordingly, starting this spring, passengers will be able to book New York taxis through the Uber app. The fare for taxi rides will be almost the same as UberX service. Taxi drivers can also accept or reject Uber calls after seeing the fare.
NYT reported that this is the first time Uber and the U.S. taxi industry have formed such a large-scale partnership. This is a result of the difficulties faced by the New York taxi industry due to the surge in remote workers and the drop in tourists after COVID-19. Uber is providing similar services in partnership with taxi industries in Korea, Spain, Colombia, and other countries.
Guy Peterson, Head of Uber Business Development, said, "The real winners of this agreement are the (taxi) drivers and passengers," adding, "Drivers no longer have to worry about finding passengers during slow hours, and passengers can access thousands of Yellow Cabs through the Uber app." This is also expected to help solve the driver shortage faced by ride-hailing companies.
NYT also added that with Uber's move, its competitor Lyft may also enter into similar partnerships.
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