Rabat – While Casablanca taxi drivers continue their protests against the presence of Uber in the city, the American company plans to extend its services to the city of Rabat.
Uber will allow residents of Rabat to use UberX and Uber Select services with the possibility of paying by credit card or cash.
“Morocco, a touristic destination and a country with a strong investment potential, is a model to integrate collaborative solutions, especially in the field of transport, as it allows for the improvement of urban mobility and job creation in large cities,” CEO of Uber Morocco, Meryem Belqziz, said in a statement.
The CEO explained that, as 40 percent of Uber’s users in Casablanca are tourists, mainly from France, the USA, and China, the company’s plan to extend its services in Rabat “is motivated by a desire to contribute to enriching the supply of urban transport to serve the general public and tourists.”
The American company has been illegal in Casablanca since a district decision back in August 2015. However, it continues to operate in the city, sparking the wrath of local cabbies.
In early April, the Alliance of Trade Unions representing taxi drivers in Morocco has urged the National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) to ban on the use of Uber in Casablanca.
Interviewed by the AFP, Belqziz justified Uber’s presence by saying that is not a transport company like taxi firms, but simply an app that connects independent drivers with passengers.
The transport network company operates in more than 570 cities worldwide. It has become the most recognized alternative to regular taxis, connecting drivers with passengers directly and often offering cheaper prices.
