Mandatory prices for Bolt? City of Erfurt reserved - Erfurt’s taxis fight back as Bolt and Uber slash fares by 40%
Erfurt’s taxi industry is facing growing competition from ride-hailing services like Bolt. Since December, ten Bolt vehicles have been operating in the city, offering fares significantly cheaper than traditional taxis. Local officials are now exploring ways to level the playing field by introducing minimum fare rules similar to those in other German cities.
Bolt and Uber have been undercutting local taxi prices by 30 to 40 percent. Unlike taxis, these services operate outside municipal fare regulations, putting pressure on Erfurt’s 90 licensed cabs. The city’s transport authorities have taken note of the issue and are weighing measures to protect the taxi trade.
Several major German cities have already taken action. Berlin introduced minimum fares for ride-hailing services in November 2023, followed by Munich in March 2024. Frankfurt am Main implemented similar rules in June 2024, and Hamburg followed in October. Smaller cities like Essen and Heidelberg have also set fare floors to support their taxi industries. Before making a decision, Erfurt’s officials have stressed the need for a detailed market analysis. They want to assess the impact of ride-hailing services on local transport before setting any new pricing rules.
The proposed minimum fares aim to prevent ride-hailing companies from pricing taxis out of the market. If introduced, the rules would align Erfurt with other cities that have already taken steps to regulate private-hire services. A final decision will depend on the outcome of the upcoming market review.
