On a sunny day in Rhodes Island, Greece, a group of taxi owners and drivers channeled their inner Hulks and wreaked havoc in a parking lot, overturning and smashing Uber cars like they were toys. Prior to the incident, three Uber drivers had been arrested by the police for violating traffic laws and offering cheaper-than-permitted rides to the island’s airport, while taxi drivers organized a rally against Uber’s presence in Rhodes.
Local media outlets Dimokratiki and Rodiak captured the shocking aftermath of the Greek taxi drivers’ rampage outside Uber Greece’s premises in Rhodes. The photos show a VW T-Roc and a Volvo XC40 flipped over on their roofs, with their logos suggesting that they were leased to be used by Uber. Several other cars and SUVs were also vandalized, with shattered windows and broken mirrors. Among the damaged vehicles were a Mercedes CLA, three GLAs, a Peugeot 3008, and a Skoda Octavia. A scooter was also found vandalized, but it is unclear if it was related to the company. The scene resembled more of a Hollywood action movie than a sunny day in Greece.
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Photos by Dimokratiki
The vandalism was allegedly caused by a group of enraged taxi owners and drivers on Thursday, April 27. According to reports, the incident was sparked by an Uber driver giving the finger to local taxi drivers while breaking traffic laws, leading to his arrest by police. But that was just the beginning of the chaos. Two more Uber drivers were arrested on Wednesday for offering discounted fares to the airport, charging only €20 ($22) instead of the company’s minimum rate of €36 ($40), as reported by Dimokratiki.
Beyond the recent incidents of Uber cars being trashed on Rhodes Island, it’s clear that there’s been long-standing tension between Greek taxi syndicates and the ride-sharing giant. Since launching in Rhodes and Corfu on April 25, 2023, Uber has been ruffling feathers with its business model, which is vastly different from the local taxi legislation in Greece. While obtaining a taxi permit in Athens can cost up to a whopping €100k ($110k), working with Uber is considerably cheaper and requires far fewer hoops to jump through.
In response to the vandalism on Rhodes Island, Uber Greece released a statement condemning the incident in Rhodes, stating that nothing justifies acts of violence under any circumstances. The ride-sharing giant has pledged to work with the authorities to identify those responsible for the vandalism, emphasizing that threats and aggression shouldn’t be tolerated. At the same time, Uber Greece also expressed its commitment to supporting local taxi drivers through cooperation.
The local taxi syndicate in Rhodes has a different take on the situation, saying they will continue to oppose Uber’s presence in the region without mentioning the vandalism. They argue that the multinational company’s entry into the market has created unfair and unregulated competition in a market with strong seasonal characteristics. According to the taxi syndicate, more than 700 families in Rhodes depend on the taxi business for their livelihoods. The taxi drivers have vowed to continue their fight against Uber with more demonstrations and strikes.
It looks like the battle between traditional taxis and ride-sharing services is far from over
