Taxi app rival to Uber hits the road in Dundee

TRANSPORT: Ride Loca launches with promise to ‘do things the right way’ – and donate part of profits to local charities

Dozens of taxi drivers have signed up to a Dundee-based rival to Uber that has launched in the city.

Ride Loca shares a lot of similar themes to the multi-billion-dollar tech company, including being able to book a journey through the app, leaving driver feedback and paying through the platform.

However, chief executive Farees Ahmed said it was the differences between the firms that was important.

“Companies like Uber are funded by investors who want a return and that’s made through high commissions and ultimately paid by the customer,” the Dundonian said.

“Often they’ll reduce their prices when they go into the market and then raise them when there are less taxis.

“We are using technology like Uber but we are doing things the right way, protecting the trade in a way that’s sustainable, making it better for drivers.

“We have made a substantial investment in the technology but our commission is 10%, compared to Uber’s which can be up to 30%.”

The launch comes at a time it has been claimed that up to 30 taxi drivers in Dundee have already left the trade after a downturn in demand.

Ride Loca has done a soft launch in Dundee with 35 taxi drivers signed up to the platform and the number of customers building through word of mouth.

Mr Ahmed said the app is continuing to be developed, with improvements daily, and has a unique safety feature.

“Sometimes with Uber people can take someone else’s ride, change the destination and then the person who booked the journey gets charged for it,” he said.

“To mitigate that risk and increase the safety, Ride Loca customers need to give a code they receive to their phone to the driver.

“We are still recruiting drivers – from their point of view it’s an extra channel for them to get more work.”

Although Uber has launched in more than 10,000 cities around the world, it is yet to come to Dundee, making Ride Loca the city’s first ride-hailing app.

But Mr Ahmed plans to soon expand beyond Dundee and start to compete with Uber in other cities.

“We will be expanding but we want to make it a success in Dundee first,” he said.

“Drivers get to keep more of their income, which stays in the community, and part of the profits we generate will go to Dundee charities.

Ride Loca chief executive Farees Ahmed at the launch in Dundee.