Beijing officials crack down on Uber-like car services

Beijing officials have launched a crackdown on Uber-like transport services – allowing commuters to hire rides at the click of a button on their smartphone – in what they call a campaign against “unlicensed taxis”.

The Chinese capital’s transport authorities have stepped up patrols and spot checks at the city’s airport, train stations and in downtown business districts for vehicles engaged in “illegal commercial operations”, Liang Jianwei, a spokesperson for the Beijing Transport Law Enforcement Corps was quoted by local newspapers as saying on Tuesday.

Drivers or companies found to be providing paid transport services via internet or mobile apps without proper taxicab licences would be fined up to 20,000 yuan (HK$25,200), Liang said.

Beijing now joins a growing list of Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing, Shenyang, Dalian and Jinan, to officially ban Uber-like services which connect private car owners with passengers.

The Uber app, developed in the US, launched in select Chinese markets last year. The app connects drivers with people in need of rides, charging rates based on the distance and giving each party the option of approving or declining bids.

The service is cash-less, automatically charging a passenger’s credit card once the destination is reached and transferring funds to the driver’s bank account.