Ride-Hailing App Uber Has Lost Its London Licence

London’s transport regulator Transport for London (TfL) has stripped ride-hailing app Uber of its London license.

In a blow to the $68bn ride-hailing company, TfL has declined to renew Uber’s license to operate in London.

Uber is the world’s largest taxi-hailing app and currently has more than 40,000 drivers in London. According to the company, some 3.5 million Londoners use the app.

In a statement, TfL said that Uber was “not fit and proper” to operate in the city. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan added: “I fully support TfL’s decision—it would be wrong if TfL continued to license Uber if there is any way that this could pose a threat to Londoners’ safety and security.”

Following the announcement, Uber responded with the following statement: “Transport for London and the Mayor have caved in to a small number of people who want to restrict consumer choice… We intend to immediately challenge this in the courts.”
Uber has 21 days to appeal the decision, and will be allowed to continue to operate during the legal process.
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About the author

Claire Lancaster

Tech & Entrepreneurship Editor

English-American, Claire has lived and worked in the U.S., South America, Europe and the UK. As Culture Trip’s tech and entrepreneurship editor she covers the European startup scene and issues ranging from Internet privacy to the intersection of the web with civil society, journalism, public policy and art. Claire holds a master’s in international journalism from City University, London and has contributed to outlets including Monocle, NPR, Public Radio International and the BBC World Service. When not writing or travelling, she can be found searching for London's best brunch spot or playing with her cat, Diana Ross.