Budapest's Taxi Battle: Bolt Fights Back

Sep 08 2023

A new taxi battle has erupted in Budapest, Hungary, with local taxi companies attacking Bolt, an Estonian ride-hailing company, citing a ruling by the European Court of Justice. Bolt has quickly responded to the accusations and is taking legal action to repair its reputation.

Escalation of the dispute

The conflict between Bolt and the local taxi companies has escalated, with multiple taxi companies declaring war on Bolt and accusing it of not operating in compliance with the licenses issued. The cabbies are citing a ruling by the European Court of Justice to support their claims.

Bolt's response and defense

Bolt has vehemently denied the allegations made by the taxi companies and maintains that it operates in accordance with Hungarian and European Union regulations. The company also emphasizes its commitment to improving the customer experience and making calling a taxi more convenient through their app.

Background of the taxi war

The current taxi war in Budapest was triggered by a petition sent by the National Taxi Association to the Municipality of Budapest, condemning Bolt's trademark practices and aiming to create a fair playing field for traditional taxi companies. This is not the first time Budapest has seen such a conflict, as a similar protest led to Uber withdrawing from the Hungarian market in 2016.

Questions & Answers

1. What is the current taxi drama in Hungary? There is a current taxi drama in Hungary involving a dispute between domestic taxi companies and Bolt, an Estonian company.

2. Which taxi companies are involved in the dispute with Bolt? The domestic taxi companies involved in the dispute with Bolt include Best Taxi, City Taxi, Go Taxi, and Taxi4.

3. What is the main accusation against Bolt by the domestic taxi companies? The domestic taxi companies are accusing Bolt of not operating in compliance with the licenses issued to them and citing a ruling by the European Court of Justice to support their claims.

4. How is Bolt responding to the accusations made by the domestic taxi companies? Bolt has responded to the accusations by stating that it acts in accordance with Hungarian and European Union legal regulations and cooperates with the competent authorities. They also mentioned that they will take necessary legal steps to protect their reputation.

5. What is Bolt's main objective according to their response to the accusations? Bolt's main objective, according to their response, is to make everyday life easier for its passengers. They aim to make calling a taxi easier and more convenient and continuously improve customer experience.

6. What triggered the taxi dispute in Budapest? The taxi dispute in Budapest was triggered by the National Taxi Association sending a petition to the Municipality of Budapest, condemning Bolt's trademark practices and aiming to create a fair playing field for traditional taxi companies while squeezing out Bolt.

7. Was there a similar taxi protest in Budapest before? Yes, back in the summer of 2016, there were taxi protests in Budapest, and eventually, Uber was forced to withdraw from the Hungarian market.

8. Where can I learn more about the current taxi drama in Hungary? If you would like to learn more about the current taxi drama in Hungary, you can read about the matter by following the link provided in the source article.

Need help?

From finding a job, to a place to live, help setting up a business or just advice for your next vacation - tell us what you need and we'll connect you with an expert.



Travel ideas