Lyft confirms ‘no immediate changes’ for Gett drivers and users as landmark taxi trade acquisition plans take shape
- Perry Richardson
- Apr 24
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 27
Lyft has confirmed that drivers and passengers using Gett will see no immediate changes following the firm’s planned acquisition of its UK operations, as further details emerge on how the business will be integrated into Freenow and Lyft model.
Speaking to TaxiPoint, a spokesperson said “right now, everything will stay the same for drivers and riders”, signalling a cautious and staged approach to combining the two platforms in London’s black cab market.
Branding will begin to evolve gradually once the deal completes. Lyft suggested that in some places, drivers will see the Gett name transition to Gett by Lyft. Importantly, the experience will stay the same for drivers and riders. The approach suggests the company is seeking to retain Gett’s established presence in at least the short-term while aligning it with Lyft’s global platform.
The acquisition will also see Gett’s UK workforce integrated into Lyft’s existing operations. The company told TaxiPoint that they are excited to welcome Gett’s UK employees into the Freenow by Lyft team, confirming that staff will transition into a unified business structure as part of the deal.
Brand transition and platform integration to be phased following UK acquisition
A key operational focus will be the combined driver network across both platforms. Lyft highlighted the scale of overlap already present in the market, noting: “Two thirds of taxi drivers in Greater London already drive with Gett, and many of those also drive with Freenow.” The company added that “the combination is powerful and will make ride matching even easier and faster for riders”.
Despite the long-term ambition to integrate supply, Lyft indicated that cross-platform functionality will not be introduced immediately. When asked whether Gett taxis would appear on Freenow or Lyft apps, the company reiterated: “Right now, everything will stay the same for drivers and riders.”
However, it signalled future changes, adding that over time, bringing these two platforms together means riders will benefit from a much larger pool of black taxi drivers, leading to faster ETAs, better reliability, and an even stronger experience.
The phased integration reflects the complexity of combining two major platforms in a highly regulated market, where driver supply, licensing rules and customer expectations must be carefully managed. For London’s taxi sector, the eventual merging of two of the capital’s biggest cabbie pools could make the industry more efficient for bookings with greater coverage.
Lyft’s strategy centres on building a unified mobility platform in the capital, spanning black cabs, private hire and corporate travel. The addition of Gett’s enterprise-focused client base is expected to further strengthen its position among business users, while the gradual integration aims to minimise disruption across both driver and passenger networks.
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