Costa Rica: Unregulated, Uber reaches 800k users

Nearly three years after breaking into the Costa Rican market, Uber already has 800k users and 22 thousand driver associates. However,steps to regulate the company’s operations don’t seem to have moved forward, exposing both the company and the authorities to threats and opposition from the taxi sector.

“We are not competitors to taxi drivers. We are a complementary option in transportation, which uses a technological platform and provides a private service. We are willing to discuss the regulation of Uber as soon as possible,” said Andrés Echandi, Uber’s Costa Rican branch manager. However, the Mr. Echandi said, Uber cannot be regulated in the same way as taxis.

Despite Uber’s optimism, the government of Carlos Alvarado has intensified its operations against Uber’s partners as part of the agreement reached to defuse the protests organized by taxi drivers’ unions at the beginning of July.

Alvarado has agreed to study the issue and decide in September on the legality of Uber.
Full Content: Fox Business

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