Vancouver cab companies are joining forces with a mobile app they’ve launched today with the hopes it will help fend off the ride-sharing app Uber.
Four companies – Yellow Cab, Blacktop, Vancouver Taxi and MacLure’s – are now part of the eCab app, which lets people see which taxis are closest to them, order specific ones, and pay ahead of time.
READ MORE: Little change expected for Vancouver’s taxi industry anytime soon
“For the industry to adapt, the industry knows they need to join forces. This is the first global alliance… that was born because of this digital revolution,” says Gilles Gomis of eCab. The company, based in Europe, already operates throughout France and in several other major European cities.
“Basically what’s going on in Europe is the same that’s going on worldwide. The taxi industry and the urban mobility industry are changing, and it’s changing with unprecedented competition.”
The Vancouver Taxi Association says it joined eCab to “provide the best customer experience in Vancouver through the latest technologies.”
Some of eCab’s key features are having the ability to pre-book your cab; select your pick-up address and provide comments to the driver; track your taxi in real-time, pay with cash, credit or through the app and rate your ride instantly.
There is currently a moratorium on granting any new taxi licenses in Vancouver while the city decides on a new strategy to deal with changes in the industry. While popular ride-sharing company Uber has expressed interest in expanding to Vancouver, the city and province have said they must comply with local regulations.
~ with files from Justin McElroy
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