Uber Meets Its Match in France

WSJ ^ | 18 Sept 2015 | SAM SCHECHNER

[DUMBGRUNT]

“You have made a mockery of the French Republic,” he said. “There can be no conditions whatsoever. There is simply the law to respect. Period.”

Uber’s strident brand of Silicon Valley exceptionalism is clashing with an entrenched French business culture that grants the government and incumbent firms great sway.

. The number of taxi licenses in Paris had risen just 25% in the previous 75 years.

As France took aim at Uberpop, Uber grew even more defiant. In April 2014, France’s consumer-protection authority referred Uber to French prosecutors for falsely claiming that Uberpop was legal. Three days later, Uber said it would expand the service to Lyon, France’s third-largest city.

Uber paid the drivers’ fines and sent them back out on the road.

[DUMBGRUNT]

One legislator lectured about Uberpop’s expansion, saying: “We’re not going to let you come in here like cowboys.” The company soon cut Uberpop prices by 25% and expanded the service into three more French cities.

Uber might receive a better reception if they wore the pickelhaube!

[Pontiac]

“You can think that the law is too restrictive,” says Groupe G7’s Mr. Rousselet. “But the legislators decided on their solution to the problem. You have to have rules.”

And if those rules happen to protect you from competition? Well so much the better.

[W.]

Cheese-eating surrender monkey fail!