Uber warns of higher prices and longer wait times following Toronto’s decision to freeze new licences until the city has restored its ‘public health’ status
Uber’s new chief executive, Dara Khosrowshahi, took a swipe at Toronto’s decision to freeze new drivers licences during a visit to the city on Monday, saying Toronto should ‘learn from Uber’s mistakes’.
’We will not be deterred or beaten down by that,’ Mr Khosrowshahi said. ‘Our customers who are in Toronto don’t have to wait until we’re back in business before they begin to use Uber’s new, safe, reliable and affordable service.
‘We will not be delayed by any government regulation or order, we will only be able to provide a better experience for our customers in Toronto.’
The move comes amid criticism that Uber has been unfairly targeted by a city that has been unable to fully recover from a coronavirus pandemic.
Uber is now planning to bring 20,000 new drivers to the service in Toronto, in addition to the 200,000 drivers it has currently contracted.
Uber was already offering free rides in Toronto and in other Canadian cities for people living in areas where the service operates.
In a letter to the city of Toronto, Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi said he wanted to visit the city, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, to see how the company was operating.
Uber suspended Toronto operations after the city cancelled all new licences – a move that many said was an effort by the city to avoid the spread of the coronavirus (and prevent citizens from leaving work and gathering after closing hours).
While Uber was closed to all new drivers, Mr Khosrowhahi was able to make a personal visit.
He then travelled to Toronto on Monday to see the impact of the government’s order on the company.
’We will continue to take the safe actions to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus,’ he told reporters during a video call with Toronto Mayor John Tory and Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr Eileen de Villa.
‘We will continue to work on solutions, even more solutions, that will help people get home safely.
