Taiopei Times
Date: Dec 27, 2016
By: Lisa Wang / Staff reporter
US ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc yesterday said it does not plan to exit the Taiwanese
People hold up signs reading: “Thank you for getting me home more safely” at a demonstration organized by ride-hailing company Uber in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei Times
market yet, despite looming fines.
Uber’s comments came as the San Francisco-based company is facing up to NT$25 million (US$775,194) in fines after the legislature passed an amendment to the Highway Act (公路法) earlier this month, significantly increasing fines on illegal taxi service operators by about 166 times.
Uber’s local unit could be forced to shut down after President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) signs the amendment into law.
“The company considers Taiwan an important market,” Uber Taiwan general manager Gu Li-kai (顧立楷) said. “We hope to stay and to grow our business here. We hold a relatively optimistic view about this.” [FULL STORY]
