Taxi driving in the lake plate: expensive times and falling number of drivers!

Taxi driving in the lake plate: expensive times and falling number of drivers!

Mecklenburgische Seenplatte, Deutschland - The taxi business in Germany is currently experiencing increasing challenges. While the offer is still flourishing in urban regions, things look very different in rural areas such as the Mecklenburg Lake District. Here the Situation for taxi companies has deteriorated dramatically.

The number of taxis in the region has dropped by half since 20 years ago. The fact that there is no taxi company at all between the goods and Neubrandenburg. This has an impact on the mobility of the residents, especially for chronically ill people who are dependent on hospitals. These often have difficulty getting a taxi, especially in less densely populated areas. "Working as a taxi driver hardly makes any sense," says Nadja Sabielny, the deputy association chairwoman of the taxi companies. The outdated tariff structure no longer fits the real costs, which forces drivers to the miseries, which also presents other industries for challenges.

price increases as a solution?

In view of the permanently falling driving orders and the increased operating costs, the association of taxi companies plans to negotiate new tariffs with the Mecklenburg Lake District district next year. A price increase per kilometer is on the agenda. This project is urgently needed to secure the existence of the taxi companies. At a time when many taxi drivers only carry out sporadic trips in the evening or at the weekend, considering the sustainability of the entire sector.

The negotiations could also address cost factors such as the increasing pressure of call buses and other mobility providers as competition. Many taxi drivers feel that their offers are no longer required to the same extent, especially in rural areas.

the view of the entire trade

In the Germany-wide cut there are around 53,500 taxis, with most of them housed in North Rhine-Westphalia. The taxi business in Germany comprises around 23,200 companies, with Bavaria having the most taxi companies and the Saarland very few. From 2009 to 2019, however, the proceeds of the industry, which were around 4.86 billion euros in 2019, have increased steadily, which makes it all the more important to find new sales sources in rural regions. The Statista shows that taxis are still a popular means of transport, especially for night owls and visitors who are looking for a safe drive home after a wet and happy evening.

Current discussions among the associations show that there is a lack of support. In the latest edition of the Taxi Times Dach, possible mergers of taxi and rental car associations will be debated in order to be able to react better to the needs of the diverse forms of locomotion in the future. Faster adjustments to the reality of the market seem urgently necessary.

In summary, it can be said that the taxi business in the Mecklenburg Lake District has not only struggled with internal problems: the question arises whether a price increase or new collective bargaining can offer a solution for the continued challenges in order to ultimately meet both the service providers and the passengers.