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Uber C.E.O. Aims to Win Back London Uber C.E.O. Aims to Win Back London
(about 3 hours later)
LONDON — Uber’s new chief executive, Dara Khosrowshahi, sought to win over critics in London on Tuesday, and was set to meet with the British capital’s transport chief to try to reverse a ban on the ride-hailing service in the city, its biggest European market. LONDON — Uber’s new chief executive, Dara Khosrowshahi, sought to win over critics in London on Tuesday, meeting with the British capital’s transport chief to try to reverse a ban on the ride-hailing service in the city, its biggest European market.
Mr. Khosrowshahi’s visit came as the company he was chosen to lead just weeks ago grapples with internal divisions. Uber’s board is considering proposals to limit the power of its co-founder and former chief executive, Travis Kalanick, as it courts a major new investment.Mr. Khosrowshahi’s visit came as the company he was chosen to lead just weeks ago grapples with internal divisions. Uber’s board is considering proposals to limit the power of its co-founder and former chief executive, Travis Kalanick, as it courts a major new investment.
The push to win back London is also part of a wider charm offensive as Mr. Khosrowshahi looks to move past Mr. Kalanick’s often-combative style and change Uber’s reputation from ruthless disrupter to responsible corporate citizen.The push to win back London is also part of a wider charm offensive as Mr. Khosrowshahi looks to move past Mr. Kalanick’s often-combative style and change Uber’s reputation from ruthless disrupter to responsible corporate citizen.
No one expects a quick resolution to the dispute between Uber and Transport for London, which oversees much of the city’s public transport system, including its taxi cabs. Uber and Transport for London, which oversees much of the city’s public transport system, issued separate statements after the meeting between Mr. Khosrowshahi and Mike Brown, London’s transport commissioner. Both described the talks as “constructive” and said they would have further discussions in “the coming weeks.” Neither side provided further details.
Transport for London had revoked Uber’s taxi license last month, citing an array of issues in deciding the ride-hailing service was not “fit and proper” to be able to operate in the city. Uber’s appeal to last month’s ban could take months to resolve and even if the company loses a second appeal, it could take the case to the highest court in the country. It can continue to operate in London throughout that process. No one expects a quick resolution to the dispute between Uber and Transport for London.
The regulator revoked Uber’s taxi license last month, citing an array of issues in deciding the ride-hailing service was not “fit and proper” to operate in the city. Uber’s appeal to last month’s ban could take months to resolve and even if the company loses a second appeal, it could take the case to the highest court in the country. It can continue to operate in London throughout that process.
In the meantime, the ruling has highlighted divisions within the city.In the meantime, the ruling has highlighted divisions within the city.
Critics are led chiefly by London’s black cabdrivers. They must earn their licenses by memorizing 100,000 landmarks across 25,000 streets in London, an extremely difficult test known as The Knowledge. They argue Uber drivers are under-regulated and that the service systematically underprices competitors to win over customers.Critics are led chiefly by London’s black cabdrivers. They must earn their licenses by memorizing 100,000 landmarks across 25,000 streets in London, an extremely difficult test known as The Knowledge. They argue Uber drivers are under-regulated and that the service systematically underprices competitors to win over customers.
“Their entire business model is based on predatory pricing,” said Steve McNamara of the powerful Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, which represents the British capital’s centuries-old black cab sector. “Uber wants to undercut competitors, establish a monopoly and then raise prices when they have a monopoly.”“Their entire business model is based on predatory pricing,” said Steve McNamara of the powerful Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association, which represents the British capital’s centuries-old black cab sector. “Uber wants to undercut competitors, establish a monopoly and then raise prices when they have a monopoly.”
Supporters of Uber, however, are plentiful. The company has garnered nearly 850,000 signatures for a Change.org petition called “Save Your Uber in London.” Proponents argue satellite navigation has rendered the Knowledge obsolete, that black cabs are too expensive, and that Uber’s detailed tracking of drivers enhances passenger safety.Supporters of Uber, however, are plentiful. The company has garnered nearly 850,000 signatures for a Change.org petition called “Save Your Uber in London.” Proponents argue satellite navigation has rendered the Knowledge obsolete, that black cabs are too expensive, and that Uber’s detailed tracking of drivers enhances passenger safety.
That most black cabdrivers are white, native-born, Britons and many Uber drivers are immigrants serves only to complicate matters.That most black cabdrivers are white, native-born, Britons and many Uber drivers are immigrants serves only to complicate matters.
Meetings between Uber and Transport for London have long been controversial affairs.Meetings between Uber and Transport for London have long been controversial affairs.
Under Mr. Kalanick, Uber responded to regulators’ concerns by mobilizing consumers to drown them out and by lobbying politicians at the highest level.Under Mr. Kalanick, Uber responded to regulators’ concerns by mobilizing consumers to drown them out and by lobbying politicians at the highest level.
When the previous mayor of London, Boris Johnson, tried to clamp down on Uber two years ago, the Conservative politician was told to stand down by the prime minister at the time, David Cameron, and his chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, also Conservatives.When the previous mayor of London, Boris Johnson, tried to clamp down on Uber two years ago, the Conservative politician was told to stand down by the prime minister at the time, David Cameron, and his chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, also Conservatives.
One of Mr. Cameron’s senior advisers at the time, Steve Hilton, is married to Rachel Whetstone, then head of communications for Uber. The couple are godparents to one of Mr. Cameron’s children. The meetings often took place at 10 Downing Street and were chaired by Daniel Korski, Mr. Cameron’s technology adviser.One of Mr. Cameron’s senior advisers at the time, Steve Hilton, is married to Rachel Whetstone, then head of communications for Uber. The couple are godparents to one of Mr. Cameron’s children. The meetings often took place at 10 Downing Street and were chaired by Daniel Korski, Mr. Cameron’s technology adviser.
If there have been changes at the highest level at Uber, the dynamics in London have changed, too. The new mayor, Sadiq Khan, is a member of the opposition Labour Party and not beholden to the Conservative government of Prime Minister Theresa May, Mr. Cameron’s successor.If there have been changes at the highest level at Uber, the dynamics in London have changed, too. The new mayor, Sadiq Khan, is a member of the opposition Labour Party and not beholden to the Conservative government of Prime Minister Theresa May, Mr. Cameron’s successor.
For Uber, the London ban is but one of several headaches around the world that the company’s leadership must confront.For Uber, the London ban is but one of several headaches around the world that the company’s leadership must confront.
While Mr. Khosrowshahi is on his diplomacy mission, Uber’s board is scheduled to discuss proposals that would limit Mr. Kalanick’s power. That meeting will include two new directors named by Mr. Kalanick late last week, a surprise move that escalated tensions with other board members.While Mr. Khosrowshahi is on his diplomacy mission, Uber’s board is scheduled to discuss proposals that would limit Mr. Kalanick’s power. That meeting will include two new directors named by Mr. Kalanick late last week, a surprise move that escalated tensions with other board members.
The proposals are tentatively linked to a pending $10 billion investment in the company from a group led by SoftBank of Japan, a potential deal that Uber’s board has worked on for weeks.The proposals are tentatively linked to a pending $10 billion investment in the company from a group led by SoftBank of Japan, a potential deal that Uber’s board has worked on for weeks.
It is a sign of importance of the London ban that, even with Uber’s board meeting set to take place, Mr. Khosrowshahi has flown to meet with authorities here. With 40,000 drivers and 3.5 million customers, the city is Uber’s biggest market in Europe, and one of its largest in the world.It is a sign of importance of the London ban that, even with Uber’s board meeting set to take place, Mr. Khosrowshahi has flown to meet with authorities here. With 40,000 drivers and 3.5 million customers, the city is Uber’s biggest market in Europe, and one of its largest in the world.
“London is the Champions League of Transportation,” Mr. Kalanick told the British newspaper City A.M. three years ago. “It has got a more dynamic, more competitive transportation system than any other city in the world.”“London is the Champions League of Transportation,” Mr. Kalanick told the British newspaper City A.M. three years ago. “It has got a more dynamic, more competitive transportation system than any other city in the world.”
The effort on Tuesday is meant to show that Uber is adopting a more conciliatory approach to working with cities. Such a change in attitude is important as Uber continues to expand globally and justify its sky-high $68.5 billion valuation ahead of an initial public offering that Mr. Khosrowshahi has said could come in 2019.The effort on Tuesday is meant to show that Uber is adopting a more conciliatory approach to working with cities. Such a change in attitude is important as Uber continues to expand globally and justify its sky-high $68.5 billion valuation ahead of an initial public offering that Mr. Khosrowshahi has said could come in 2019.
There are plenty of challenges, though.There are plenty of challenges, though.
The company’s most senior executive based here, Jo Bertram, recently resigned.The company’s most senior executive based here, Jo Bertram, recently resigned.
And elsewhere, the ride-hailing service has continued to face pressure from both governments and competitors. The company gave up its ambitions to expand in China last year when it sold its operations there to a venture run by Didi Chuxing, a homegrown rival. Uber also sold its Russian business this summer to a new joint venture run by its main competitor in that country, Yandex. And elsewhere, the ride-hailing service has continued to face pressure from both governments and competitors. Uber gave up its ambitions to expand in China last year when it sold its operations there to a venture run by Didi Chuxing, a homegrown rival. It also sold its Russian business this summer to a new joint venture run by its main competitor in that country, Yandex.
Uber has also faced criticism over the treatment of its drivers. Last month, the company appealed a British court decision in which judges ruled that Uber drives should be classified as employees, and should be treated as such. The company argues its drivers are self-employed contractors.
That claim has come in for scrutiny from Europe’s highest court, as well. Any shift in how Uber treats its employees would have wide-reaching implications not just for the company, but the so-called gig economy as well, forcing “on demand” businesses to offer workers the payments, protections and benefits that full-time employees are typically entitled to.
Notably, however, Transport for London’s ruling revoking Uber’s license here made no mention of the company’s labor practices.
“It’s absolutely extraordinary that workers’ rights have not come into it,” said Caroline Russell, a Green Party member of the London Assembly, a mini-legislature that scrutinizes City Hall.