Unlicensed Uber service in Norway suspended
Uber would suspend its unlicensed service UberPOP in Oslo until Norway introduced new rules, it said on Monday, as the US ride-hailing service adopts a more conciliatory tone with national authorities.
The move follows a similar one-year suspension in Finland in July to allow a new taxi law to come into effect. However, there is no set date for when UberPOP will be reintroduced in Norway.
The company has come under fierce pressure from traditional taxi drivers and regulators across Europe who accuse it of unfair competition and skirting licensing rules.
UberPOP has already been suspended in several European capitals including Paris and Brussels, and Uber was recently humbled when it lost its licence to operate in London.
“We’ve learned the hard way that we must change as a company in order to serve the millions of riders and drivers who rely on us. With our new CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, on board, it’s a new era for Uber,” the company said. “It’s now time to pause UberPOP in Norway, in order to relaunch under new regulations.”
UberPOP will be suspended on October 30, while Uber’s licensed services, UberBLACK and UberXXL, will continue to operate as normal.
The Norwegian transport minister said Uber was being treated as any other market participant would be.
“All actors offering taxi services must conform to rules and regulation at any time,” Ketil Solvik-Olsen said.
The suspension of UberPOP in Norway comes as the non-EU country must answer by October 27 a query on its transport regulations by the Efta Surveillance Authority, which ensures EU regulations are enforced in countries that have access to the European common market.
Uber will suspend UberPOP three days after that deadline.
In February, the surveillance authority said Norway was setting “disproportionately high barriers to enter the taxi market”, which led to inefficient use of resources and higher prices for consumers. It said Norway’s restrictions on taxi licences were illegal.