Posts by Mark Bursa
Chabé jets in to private aviation sector with Limo Plus acquisition
Fast-growing chauffeur operator Chabé has acquired Farnborough-based Limo Plus. It is the first acquisition that Chabé has made in Britain since the Paris-based company set up its UK subsidiary in 2020. Limo Plus serves a similar portfolio of high-end clients to Chabé – and crucially, it brings access to a number of private jet operators…
Read MoreComfortDelGro to propel CMAC global expansion after £80 million takeover
Singapore-based transport giant ComfortDelGro has acquired ground transport management specialist CMAC Group for £80 million. The deal has been done through ComfortDelGro’s wholly-owned subsidiary CityFleet Networks, and is expected to drive CMAC’s expansion into mainland Europe. As well as the UK, CMAC has operations in France, Spain, Portugal, Greece and the Netherlands, handling disruptions and…
Read MoreLPHCA demands urgent talks with TfL over ‘unacceptable’ 2024 signage requirements
The LPHCA has written to TfL Director of Licensing Helen Chapman (pictured), demanding an urgent meeting over “unacceptable” new signage requirements and complaints procedures for all private hire vehicles, due to come into force next July. The new signage rules could see vehicles – even chauffeur cars – festooned with warning signs and compliance notices…
Read MoreVAT victory for Bolt as HMRC loses case over Tour Operator Margin Scheme charges
Bolt has won its appeal against HMRC over whether private hire operators are eligible to use the Tour Operator Margin Scheme (TOMS), which reduces liability for VAT to the margin of a trip rather than the full fare. The ruling is a major victory for the private hire sector, as it effectively kills off HMRC’s…
Read MoreADCU in turmoil as Farrar resigns after independent report cites “toxic” culture
The trade union that won landmark employment rulings against Uber has been plunged into chaos after an internal report highlighted multiple cases of abusive and racist behaviour within the organisation. The report has resulted in the resignation of App Drivers and Couriers Union founder James Farrar, and has left the union leaderless as co-founder Yaseen…
Read MoreCurtis Gabriel falls into administration two years after major head office expansion
Curtis Gabriel, the digital marketing business that specialised in running private hire operators’ social media accounts, has gone into administration. Insolvency practitioners Steven Ross and Allan Kelly, both of FRP Advisory Trading Limited, were appointed administrators in the High Court of Justice Business and Property Courts in Newcastle-upon-Tyne last week. According to sources, Curtis Gabriel…
Read MoreUber move to partner with London Black Cabs receives frosty response from LTDA
Uber’s surprising decision to try and add London black cabs to its ride-hailing app has met with a negative response from the taxi drivers’ trade association. Uber said it was opening the platform to taxi drivers, with the intention of starting services in early 2024. But Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers…
Read MoreFreeNow and Karhoo partner on ride-hailing services across Europe
Karhoo is integrating the FreeNow mobility app into its platform under a new pan-European partnership. The alliance aims to make private and business travel seamless by improving the accessibility of ride-hailing services. Under the deal, Karhoo will integrate FreeNow’s taxi and private-hire vehicle supply to serve some of the biggest names in the hotel, travel…
Read MoreAddison Lee resets green targets and calls on Khan to keep c-charge EV exemption
Addison Lee has rowed back on its pledge to have an all-electric fleet by 2025, and instead has announced a major order for plug-in hybrid Volkswagen Multivan people carriers. The company cites a lack of availability of suitable EV models, particularly 7-seaters, and ongoing problems with charging infrastructure. The company has set a new goal…
Read MoreChancellor announces 2024 consultation on whether private hire fares should be subject to VAT
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt used the Autumn Statement to launch a consultation into whether private hire operators should charge VAT on fares. The consultation, which follows the recent Sefton High Court ruling, will be launched in the first half of 2024. The Autumn Statement said: “ The government will consult in early 2024 on the impacts…
Read MoreUber takes surprise decision to shut down Local Cab service from December 11
Uber has taken the surprise decision to close its Local Cab service in the UK – though it plans to expand the service internationally. An Uber spokesperson said: “Following a review we have decided to discontinue the Local Cab service in the UK, meaning that this product will no longer be available for Uber users.…
Read MoreBolt launches scheduled ride service for London customers
London customers can now schedule a journey with ride-hailing platform Bolt up to three days in advance, addressing one of the major weaknesses of ride-hailing platforms. Drivers will wait for five minutes free of charge after they arrive, and the price is locked in when a driver accepts the order. Passengers of scheduled rides will…
Read MoreToyota changes its mind – new Prius will go on sale in UK next year
Toyota has changed its mind about launching the new Prius in the UK, and the car is now set to go on sale next year. Earlier, Toyota had killed off the hybrid model in the UK, citing tumbling sales and a switch to SUVs, with the Prius-based C-HR model taking over as the top-selling lower-medium…
Read MoreDG Group moves south with strategic acquisition of Arrow Taxi Group
Nottingham-based DG Group has expanded into southern England with the strategic acquisition of Worthing-based Arrow Taxi Group. The company, which is unrelated to Leeds-based Arrow Cars, is a family-run business which has been under the same ownership for the past 29 years. The deal adds 250 cars to DG Group’s fleet and expands the group’s…
Read MoreVeezu wins Cardiff approval to wrap vehicles with prominent logos, despite local concerns
Veezu has won approval from Cardiff City Council to display its branding on its cars in the city, despite the concerns of local rivals. The Newport-based private hire giant was granted an exemption from a licensing condition that restricts the size of the logo that can be displayed on private hire vehicles. Exterior advertising is…
Read MoreNorth Somerset Council scales back new taxi licensing rules over driver hardship fears
Tighter new rules for taxis in North Somerset have been scaled back after drivers warned they could force drivers out of business. A plan to ban any car from being used as a taxi once it was ten years old has now been dropped by North Somerset Council’s licensing committee. But plans to lower the…
Read MoreDarlington operators struggle to meet demand as driver numbers remain below 2020 levels
Operators in Darlington are struggling to fulfil jobs in the town due to a shortage of drivers. The number of taxi drivers in Darlington has not recovered since the Covid-19 pandemic, and there are around 100 fewer drivers in the town than there were in February 2020. New data shows there are just 394 licensed…
Read MoreShortlists announced for the 2023 Professional Driver QSi Awards
Professional Driver is proud to announce our shortlists for the 2023 QSi Awards. The awards celebrate their 10th anniversary this year, and the exceptional entry this year reflects the high regard in which the awards are held within the taxi, chauffeur and private hire industry. Not only did we receive the largest number of entries…
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