Germany's Federal Court Upholds Taxi Regulations Against Uber and Bolt

Germany's Federal Court of Justice ruled that drivers for ride‑hailing platforms such as Uber and Bolt may not wait at a passenger’s destination to pick up new riders, a decision that reinforces protections for traditional taxis. The platforms have responded by planning to send fleets from neighboring European countries into Germany, arguing that mandatory return‑to‑origin rules conflict with EU law. City authorities are also introducing minimum‑fare rules to safeguard the taxi trade, while Uber and Bolt continue to promote app‑based booking, upfront pricing and safety‑sharing features as advantages over conventional cabs.

The legal outcome and the firms’ strategy highlight an ongoing competition battle over market access, pricing models and regulatory compliance in Germany’s passenger‑transport sector.