Brazilian boost for Uber as regulators ease up on latest legislation

Uber will almost definitely see Brazil's newest legislation surrounding the taxi and ride-hailing industry as a victory, with original legislations that threatened their business model, being dropped. Brazil is a huge market for the ride-sharing giants, with 20 million users and 500,000 drivers. It was surely near the top, if not at the top, of CEO Dara Khosrowshahi's priorities to see original legislative proposals dropped from the final draft. Khosrowshahi traveled personally to Brazil to meet lawmakers and the finance minister Herique Meirelles to discuss the original version which required drivers to obtain a special license issued by local authorities and own the vehicle they were driving. This would of caused major problems to Uber's current business model, but this particular legislation was dropped from the final version. Brazil is not the only country Dara Khosrowshahi visited personally in an attempt to rebuild relations with regulators who have attempted to tighten regulations surrounding their business model which some would say has caused chaos within the taxi industry in major big cities around the world. Khosrowshahi also visited London , England in a hope to have their licence renewal reconsidered by regulators Transport For London, who last year decided to not issue a new operators license on the grounds of not being "fit and proper". It's not yet clear how well or bad those talks with TfL went. Uber's appeal against the decision is set to take place within the next couple of months. Will they see a change in heart by regulators as they did in Brazil, or will it be lights-out and Apps off in London.Â
