Uber may start operating in the Algarve as of 2016. However, unlike what happens in Lisbon and Porto, Algarve taxi drivers are not too worried about the arrival of Uber in the region, as transfer drivers fear «unfair competition ».
Em interview Mark MacGann said to the Público newspaper, the head of regulatory affairs at Uber in Europe, that “we are considering the Algarve next year, for two or three months. Well, maybe more, because the summer here in Portugal…».
Despite the complaints and controversy that the Uber service has generated in Lisbon and Porto, mainly due to complaints from taxi drivers, according to António Pinto, delegate of Antral in the Algarve, the application that "links" drivers to transported people, will not have great success in the region, as he told the Sul Informação.
“For us, this will not affect us much, we already have loyal customers, we have the airport… It is a service more dedicated to big cities. And I don't think Uber will have great success here, nor great affluence», he considered.
António Pinto also joked saying that «there are already lots of “Ubers” installed here [airport], most of them working illegally», pointing to the parked transfer vans.
Despite this, the Antral delegate does not rule out that there may be protests in the Algarve as happened in Lisbon and Porto, "in principle there will be protests, not least because we also participated in protests against Uber in Lisbon and Porto".
A different point of view has Mónica Caldeira, owner of the company EasyTransfer. The businesswoman considers that "Uber is another competitor and has the same target audience as ours", but offers a service that is "unfair competition".
“I would like Uber to be legislated, to have the same insurance and charges as us. They offer the same service as us and taxis, but we are required to have insurance, a special driving license, and Uber is not required to do anything». Therefore, "they can make lower prices with which it will be difficult to compete".
However, Mónica Caldeira sees an advantage in arriving at Uber, but only “if the same demands are made in terms of compliance with legislation”. The businesswoman thinks that «competition is welcome, because Uber is an addition of services, it is a good competitor, and it forces us to be better».
The fact that Uber will only work in the Algarve for a few months doesn't surprise Mónica Caldeira either: «It's normal, in winter there's no one, we stay here to work, because we're from here», she concluded.
The Lisbon Court banned Uber Technologies Inc. from operating in Portugal after an injunction requested by Antral. However, Uber Technologies Inc. only operates in the United States, while in Portugal it operates with another company of the group. Therefore, the service continues to operate, in Lisbon and Porto, despite the court decision.
Despite not having affected the service, Uber's website in Portugal is not available, and the US multinational has appealed this Court decision.
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