Let the taxi drivers tremble: Uber and Cabify, two revolutionary apps, are coming

Car sharing is becoming fashionable in Spain, with services such as Blablacar (which enjoy great success beyond our borders, as in France) and which are now establishing themselves in our country with more users every day.

But that’s not all: what if I suggested ordering a taxi through a mobile app, knowing in advance what you’ll pay for the journey and at more competitive prices than a taxi, even choosing the car? What do you think? This is what Uber (which has been a huge success in the US and Canada) and, specifically, Cabify (which already operates in Spain but is less well known) propose.

Uber arrives in Spain

The news broke because the giant Uber, well known outside our borders and already operating in France, has threatened to land in our country, specifically in Barcelona. Thanks to its app, anyone can act as a taxi driver (being 23 years old, owning a car, holding a driving licence and having valid insurance, as well as a good car).

How does it work? You download the app and register; from there you plot the route you want, choose the driver and know the amount to pay, which you pay at that moment from the phone itself, and that’s it: a driver comes to pick you up at the agreed point to take you to your destination.

The best thing about the service is that in almost all the European cities where it operates, it offers several types of cars, from high end to more low cost, each with its own price. In Barcelona they will operate with low-cost cars (for example, a Toyota Prius), but the price to pay is, of course, better than that of a taxi.

Specifically, according to the website, in Barcelona the cost would be 1 euro (base fare) + 0.30 €/minute or 0.75 €/km with a minimum of 3 euros. Another example of costs would be Paris, where there are four car categories to choose from, varying the above costs, and where you can enjoy a high-end car or a more discreet one if you prefer.

Cabify also offers a similar service, but in Madrid, for example, it is more focused on premium cars because of their cost and does not compete directly with taxis as Uber does.

Personally, I suppose that in the end this will be sorted out through a Law or Regulation, because if it is not regulated it could be a problem when competing with taxis, but of course the question is whether people will end up embracing apps like these and what the level of acceptance will be.

Source: | Motorpasion, Uber.com, Cabify.es