Several drivers tell SVT that the prices of so-called app taxi trips with companies such as Uber and Bolt have plummeted in price in recent months. In recent years, the Apptaxi companies have won market share from the traditional taxi companies.
The Apptaxi drivers testify to long workweeks of up to 70 hours, but despite this, the economy does not add up when the compensation has become lower and the costs for the car have increased.
– In the last six months, we have noticed that everything has dropped right down in terms of the compensation for our trips, says taxi driver Cathrine Lind.
Priced at 30 percent
The association Taxiunionen works to improve the situation for app taxi drivers. They have started their own app which will give the drivers higher compensation. At the same time, they have compared the two largest app taxi companies’ comparison prices and seen a reduction of more than 30 percent, in just two years.
– Now in recent months it has decreased even more. It will be almost impossible for our drivers to drive, says the Taxi Union’s vice-chairman John Van Dinther.
According to Cathrine Lind, the fact that app taxi trips have become cheaper also affects the incentive to choose other travel options.
– It’s completely crazy when it’s cheaper for four people to share a taxi in town than to take a municipal bus or subway, which is much more environmentally friendly, she says and continues:
– When everyone chooses to book the cheapest option then it will be like this, the tsunami bubble is about to burst.
The app taxi companies’ response
The two largest app taxi companies on the market, Bolt and Uber, declined to be interviewed about driver compensation and conditions. Instead, they submit written comments to SVT:
“The most effective way to increase partners’ revenue is to reduce drivers’ waiting times and give them more trips with the most optimal pricing possible,” writes Bolt.
“We continuously optimize our app so that drivers can get as many trips and as high earnings as possible,” writes Uber.
See in the video how cheap an app taxi trip can be and what is left for the driver.