Ride-hailing giants Cabify, Uber and Bolt have launched a joint attack on Catalonia’s proposed taxi law, warning it will worsen mobility in Barcelona and cost thousands of jobs.
The draft legislation, registered in the Catalan Parliament by PSC, Junts, ERC, Comuns and CUP, is set to take effect in 2026. It imposes tighter controls on vehicles with driver (VTCs) and aims to clarify the distinction between them and traditional taxis. But the companies argue that the move would reduce choice for passengers and threaten 4,000 direct jobs.
‘VTCs do not compete with taxis, they complement them. The proof is that both coexist on our platforms, providing a valuable service for residents and tourists who prefer booking via an app,’ the firms said in a joint statement. They also stressed that Barcelona suffers from one of the lowest ratios of taxis and VTCs per 1,000 inhabitants in Europe, with just 3.4 vehicles. That compares with 5.5 in Paris, 8.5 in Lisbon and Amsterdam, and more than 11 in London, leading to significantly longer waiting times.
The platforms called on the Catalan government and MPs to rethink the legislation, suggesting instead a law that supports fleet electrification and prepares the ground for autonomous vehicles.
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