France will institute an Uber ban starting January 1, much to the delight of taxi unions across the country.
According to Reuters, Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet explained that a law passed this year "is even more constrictive for these types of businesses" — referring to car services that are hailed via smartphone apps.
"Not only is it illegal to offer this service but additionally for the consumer there is a real danger," he said, mentioning substandard driver insurance — a common accusation lobbed by taxi unions.
In October, Uber's French subsidiary was fined 100,000 euros ($124,290) for advertising as a car pool instead of a car service similar to a taxi or limousine.
On Friday, a Paris commercial court refused to hear a lawsuit from the company's competitors alleging unfair competition. In response, Uber said it would continue operating until it received a court order to stop — as it's done in other countries like the U.S. and Germany.
Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, Uber’s general manager for Western Europe, said in an interview, "As of today the product is live, it's not been banned, and I don't see anything changing on January 1."
The New York Times reported that the new law, know as the Thévenoud Law, "would require all drivers who chauffeur paying passengers to have a license, obtainable after 250 hours of training, and to have appropriate insurance, just as with normal taxis. UberPop does not currently meet the licensing requirement, which has led to officials’ and opponents’ accusing it of operating illegally."
In France, Uber says it's UberPop trips are covered by commercial liability insurance with a $5 million per accident maximum, and that drivers themselves only need standard drivers insurance.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.