The online platform 'Uber' is controversial within the taxi and chauffeur trade across the globe because of the licencing laws it has contravened. Nonetheless it offers something valuable to its users. When travelling abroad to a city on business and the territory is unfamiliar, why not book a cab or limo service using a smart phone app which you know and trust?
People ask me if we are concerned. Well, not yet no. The geographic area that DrivenByQ serves would prove an extreme challenge for a self-driven vehicle to negotiate and in addition, the weather causes even more issues over the course of a year. In addition, the majority of our turnover comes from local corporate account holders.
The real question in my mind is not the threat to the private hire industry but whether the giants of the auto-mobile industry would allow Google to replace them? Would Ford or VW really allow their brands to be replaced with generic vehicles? I really wonder what travelling in automated cars reflects on the occupants and what statement it makes to society. Maybe only time will tell.
