Taxi-hailing app company Uber plans to start operating in Jerusalem on May 17, Jerusalem Day. As a promotion, all passengers starting their journeys in Jerusalem from 8:00 that day to 8:00 the following day will be able to receive two free journeys to a value of NIS 50 each, and will be charged only for the excess above that amount, if any. For the first week of operation, Uber will give a 50% discount on journeys starting in Jerusalem. Uber stresses that the discounts will be at the expense of the company, not of the drivers.
Uber says that, in addition to the launch promotion, cab drivers will not initially be charged commissions on fares.
Uber Israel general manager Yoni Greifman said, "After reducing fares, raising safety levels and improving driver conditions in the Dan area, we are proud to expand and to come to Jerusalem as well, and we plan to reach other cities in Israel later on."
Uber was founded in 2010, and operates in over 300 cities in 57 countries. Its operation in Israel started in August 2014, in the Tel Aviv area. Its app is available for download for iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone handsets. Its chief rival in Israel is Israeli company Gett (formerly GetTaxi), which already operates in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Eilat.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 11, 2015
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