Uber
has faced headwinds since its app went online in Denmark in 2014
as local taxi driver unions, companies and politicians
complained that Uber posed unfair competition by not meeting
legal standards required for established taxi firms.
Uber, which says about 2,000 Danish drivers and 300,000 riders
use its app, said in a statement that it would shut down its
services in Denmark on April 18 due to the new law.
Despite the minority liberal government's ambitions to
deregulate the taxi business and accommodate new operations like
Uber, the taxi law presented in February introduced measures
such as mandatory fare meters and seat sensors.
"For us to operate in Denmark again the proposed regulations
need to change. We will continue to work with the government in
the hope that they will update their proposed regulations and
enable Danes to enjoy the benefits of modern technologies like
Uber," Uber said.
Two Danish Uber driver were fined in November for violating taxi
laws and in December Uber's European division was indicted by
Danish public prosecutors on charges of assisting those drivers
in violating taxi laws.
Uber said it would allocate resources to help Danish Uber
drivers through the shutdown process.
(Editing by Mark Potter and Edmund Blair)
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