Taxi journey costs now set in stone: Duisburg introduces uniform pricing
In the heart of the Ruhr region, the city of Essen is considering a significant shift in its taxi market regulations. The aim is to support local taxis and provide a fairer competition landscape against ride-sharing services like Uber and Freenow.
The city of Duisburg, a neighbouring town, has already taken the lead in this regard. On September 1st, 2025, Duisburg introduced fixed pricing for taxis, making it the first city in the region to do so. This move has been welcomed by the Duisburger Taxi-Zentrale, who see it as crucial for their survival in the market.
The current mayor of Essen, Thomas Kufen, has been at the helm for over ten years as of 2025, and he is now discussing the potential new regulations for the taxi market in Essen. The Duisburger Taxi-Zentrale has stated that without fixed prices, it's challenging for taxis to compete with services like Uber, Freenow, and others, which are not bound by prices and often undercut them.
The dispute in Essen is not new. There has been ongoing protest from Essen taxi drivers against Uber's operations, and the issue revolves around fair pricing in the taxi market. Uber, however, sees itself as a partner, not an opponent, of taxis.
In Duisburg, a trip from Walsum to the main station currently costs around 40 euros in taxis. With the new fixed pricing, the fare for this journey could be reduced by 10%, to 36 euros. This reduction aims to attract more passengers while maintaining fairness for both taxis and riders.
Essen is also considering stricter monitoring of taxis, as drivers often pick up passengers along the way instead of returning to their designated spots. This move is aimed at ensuring a more efficient and organised taxi service.
Uber has had positive experiences with fixed pricing in other cities, such as Berlin, leading to more passengers due to price transparency. The company has praised the city of Duisburg for introducing fixed pricing and has expressed hope that Essen will follow suit.
Fuat Cetin, the board member of the Duisburger Taxi-Zentrale, has stated that taxi drivers don't aspire to become rich, but rather want to make a living, both privately and in the market. This sentiment echoes the desire for fairness and sustainability in the taxi market that is driving the discussions in Essen.
As the city of Essen continues to consider its new regulations for the taxi market, it remains to be seen how these changes will shape the local taxi industry and the competition with ride-sharing services. One thing is clear, though: the desire for fairness and sustainability in the market is a driving force behind these discussions.
