São Paulo mayor Ricardo Nunes faces Uber Moto court setback and megashow delay

The São Paulo municipal government has been embroiled in two high‑profile disputes. A São Paulo court ordered the city to authorize Uber’s motorcycle‑passenger service (Uber Moto) within 48 hours, imposing a daily fine of R$ 5,000 for non‑compliance. The municipality appealed, and the Tribunal de Justiça suspended the order, keeping the service prohibited while it reviews safety requirements such as driver toxicology tests, insurance and equipment standards. The mayor, Ricardo Nunes, has repeatedly argued that the service threatens traffic safety, citing hundreds of motorcyclist deaths in recent years.

Separately, Nunes warned that a planned free megashow on Avenida Paulista in 2026 may not materialise because of lingering legal and bureaucratic hurdles with the Ministry of Public Prosecution and the judiciary. He said the delay hampers contracts with international artists and could forfeit economic benefits for tourism, hospitality and transport. The mayor criticised what he called “personal issues” among some officials that are “postponing” the event, which had been slated to expand the city’s annual major events from three to six per year.