Uber strengthens Taiwan presence with Crown Taxi acquisition

Uber Taiwan has signed an agreement to acquire local taxi operator Crown Taxi, reinforcing the company’s commitment to investing in Taiwan and strengthening its collaboration with the local taxi industry.

Established in 2011, Crown Taxi has partnered with Uber since 2017, enabling its drivers to operate through the Uber platform, this deal would simply integrate Crown Taxi into Uber's operations.

In a conversation with MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, a spokesperson from Uber said that the brand is complementary to fleet dispatchers such as Crown Taxi. The acquisition, subject to regulatory approval and closing conditions, aims to create a more seamless experience for Crown drivers while expanding Uber’s services to more riders, especially in regional areas with limited transport options.

Upon regulatory approval, the spokesperson said that Uber will work closely with Crown Taxi’s management and drivers to ensure a smooth transition. The deal is expected to align Uber’s structure with other major ride-hailing apps, which already operate under a similar integrated model.

Additionally, Uber will work with the Crown Taxi on an integrated model while continuing the partnership with all other existing fleet dispatcher partners. "We will continue to collaborate with our partners to support the taxi industry by leveraging Uber's technology," added the spokesperson.

"After more than 10 years partnering with the industry in Taiwan, we’re excited to be taking this new next step with Crown Taxi. This acquisition highlights our commitment to innovation and to working with Taiwan’s taxi industry to bring more mobility options to more people across Taiwan. It will enable stronger collaboration with the Taiwanese government on community and social impact programmes, while Crown Taxi drivers will benefit more from streamlined onboarding to the Uber platform,” said Margarita Peker (pictured left), general manager, Uber Taiwan.

“Taiwan is one of the most competitive, thriving e-hailing markets, and the Crown Taxi acquisition is a sign of Uber’s continued commitment to investing in Taiwan,” added Peker.

"We are proud to join forces with Uber, a global leader in mobility innovation. This acquisition will provide the fleet and its drivers with access to new opportunities, all while maintaining the strong reputation and service that Crown Taxi has built over the last 13 years,” said Wu (pictured right), Crown Taxi CEO.

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