Newly-arrived Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi apologized to the millions of users in London a week after the ride sharing giant was effectively banned from the city.
“We want to thank everyone who uses Uber for your support over the last few days,” the former Expedia CEO wrote in an open letter, according to the Evening Standard. “While Uber has revolutionised the way people move in cities around the world, it’s equally true that we’ve got things wrong along the way. On behalf of everyone at Uber globally, I apologise for the mistakes we’ve made.”
Khosrowshahi clarified that Uber would fight back against the city’s decision. Regulators in London cited a general “lack of corporate responsibility,” for rejecting Uber’s application to continue operation in the city. (RELATED: London Residents Already Hate The City’s Decision To Ban Uber)
“We will appeal this decision on behalf of millions of Londoners, but we do so with the knowledge that we must also change,” Khosrowshahi said.
London’s local government transportation agency, Transport for London (TfL), listed four ways that Uber’s conduct demonstrated wrongdoing and caused “potential public safety and security implications,” including “its approach to reporting serious criminal offences” and “approach to explaining the use of Greyball in London.”
While there are several apparent instances of Uber employees, including executives, acting irresponsibly, Tom Elvidge, general manager of Uber in London, refuted some of those specific allegations.
“3.5 million Londoners who use our app, and more than 40,000 licensed drivers who rely on Uber to make a living will be astounded by this decision,” Elvidge said, according to TechCrunch. “As we have already told TfL, an independent review has found that ‘greyball’ has never been used or considered in the U.K. for the purposes cited by TfL,” he continued, referring to the proprietary technology that allowed Uber to evade authorities and skirt regulations imposed by local and national governments. (RELATED: Uber’s Spying Practices Are So Intense The DOJ Is Now Investigating)
London Mayor Sadiq Khan stood up for his fellow public officials, saying that TfL is just appropriately following orders by not renewing Uber’s license to operate in the city.
“TfL isn’t anti-private hire vehicle operators,” Khan said Sept. 22, according to the radio show called Leading Britain’s Conversation. “What TfL is against is companies not playing by the rules so customers, members of staff and others should be angry at Uber for not playing by the rules, rather than TfL who are doing their job by making sure companies are playing by the rules.”
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