Bolt drivers in Finland report declining earnings amid rising competition

Taxi drivers using the Bolt platform in Finland are reporting declining incomes, with some stating their take-home pay has dropped by approximately 30 percent over the last year. Drivers at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport have expressed reluctance to accept certain rides, such as 20-kilometer trips to the city center for roughly 20 euros, claiming the rates are no longer profitable due to intense competition between Bolt and Uber and rising fuel costs.

Mikael Uusivuori, Bolt's country manager, addressed these concerns by stating that earnings vary significantly by city. In the Helsinki metropolitan area, he estimated weekly or monthly gross turnover per driver ranges between 25 and 40 euros per hour. After sharing revenue with the platform and paying taxes, he estimated average net monthly earnings at approximately 1,500 euros for drivers primarily using Bolt in the capital region.

Uusivuori noted that while competition is high, consumer demand is currently growing faster than the number of drivers in major cities like Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, and Oulu. He also pointed out that many drivers supplement their Bolt income by using other apps like Uber or taking traditional street hails.