ISTANBUL- Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan has said ride hailing app Uber is finished in Turkey, following pressure from Istanbul taxi drivers who said it was providing an illegal service and called for it to be banned.
Figures show that about 17 000 taxis operate in Istanbul, home to about a fifth of Turkey’s population of 81 million people, after Uber entered the country in 2014 tensions have risen sharply.
Erdogan’s statement came follows new regulations announced in recent weeks tightening transport licensing requirements, making it more difficult for drivers to register with Uber and threatening a two-year ban for violations.
In a speech late on Friday in Istanbul, Erodgan said, “This thing called Uber emerged. That business is finished. That does not exist anymore,”
“We have our taxi system. Where does this (Uber) come from? It is used in Europe, I do not care about that. We will decide by ourselves.”
Erdogan is running for re-election in three weeks.
After these development Uber did not comment immediately and after the regualtions were announced, Uber said they wanted to work with all sides to improve transport and to be “a true partner to Turkey for the long term”.
Uber said that 2000 yellow cab drivers use their app to find customers and it has also been alleged that their drivers, customers are mistreated and threatened or faced violence by yellow taxi drivers.
Photo Credit- The Epoch Times
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