Mexico: Gov to review legislation for Uber

Mexican authorities agreed to review the country’s legal framework for ride-hailing services such as Uber, after taxi drivers in multiple cities on Monday blocked major avenues and access to the capital’s international airport. 

Mexico’s Interior Ministry will determine whether those services, which include Didi of China and Cabify of Spain, are operating legally, Undersecretary Ricardo Peralta said according to the newspaper El Universal. Officials and taxi driver union leaders will meet again next Monday. 

Authorities will seek to ensure all companies “operate under similar legislation and that all activities related to transportation be done under fair competition,” Peralta said, as quoted by El Universal. 

Peralta gave his remarks after thousands of cab drivers blocked major streets in Mexico City, Monterrey and Cancun for more than 10 hours. In interviews, drivers said they wanted foreign ride hailing services expelled from the country because they have massively disrupted their business as they operate under less stringent operating permitting requirements. 

“We’re sorry for the chaos we’re causing,” said Alfredo Rios, a taxi driver who parked his car on Mexico City’s Reforma Avenue. “We’re simply looking for a solution.”

Full Content: El Universal

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