Andorra: Government says taxi and Uber can coexist; unified dispatch app planned

The Secretary of State for Energy Transition, Transport and Mobility, David Forné, said Thursday that coexistence between the taxi service and the Uber platform is possible and that, since Uber’s deployment less than a month ago, the Government has not detected any notable incidents.

Forné argued that Uber is occupying a space the taxi sector may not have been serving well and provides a more premium service, which shows the two modes can coexist. After the platform’s arrival he met with taxi drivers in his role defending public service, and in recent months the Government and the sector have worked on several jointly agreed measures to promote modernization.

A key measure is a unified dispatch system, a project on which both taxi associations have reportedly reached agreement. Forné said he is waiting for the sector to present its proposal and validate it once they have clear ideas so that the Government can support them.

Technologically, the unified dispatch—likely to be called “Taxi Andorra”—will include a mobile application. Forné said the model should resemble Uber or existing platforms such as City Xerpa: it would show taxis in real time, display estimated arrival times and provide an approximate fare.

Forné also noted he maintains direct contact with many drivers, receives calls from them, and that the Government has implemented many of their requests. He stressed that it is now up to the professionals to decide how they wish to proceed.

The taxi sector is holding internal meetings, and the Government is awaiting its decision to continue advancing the planned actions.