Uber and MX Taxi announced this Tuesday an unprecedented partnership in Mexico that will allow, for the first time, users to request a licensed taxi directly from the Uber app, putting an end to the constant disputes between both parties in the country for years. The integration, both organizations specified, does not turn taxi drivers into platform partners, but rather is a digital scheme in which trips requested via Uber will be handled through MX Taxi's technology. In this sense, Félix Olmo, General Director of Uber Mexico, highlighted that this agreement, which occurs after 14 years of competition, constitutes an example of cooperation between public and private models. "Today, taxi drivers can say they have a space exclusively for them in the world's most widely distributed mobility app," he stated during the announcement in Mexico City. Olmo emphasized that the alliance will allow taxi drivers across the country to access millions of users through technology that reduces waiting times and generates more income opportunities, while also highlighting that it will be especially relevant heading towards the 2026 World Cup, for which Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey will be host cities. "We want every person looking for a ride to find it faster and with the same confidence. It's technology at the service of revaluing the taxi," he affirmed. The announcement comes amid disputes where taxi drivers blocked access to terminals 1 and 2 of Mexico City International Airport (AICM) in protest against the activity of transportation apps like Uber or DiDi, and following a call from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to find a solution through dialogue. Millions of visitors will use the app and will also be able to access a licensed taxi. Uber is operating today and is allowed to operate in the airports. This translates to more trips, more income, and better service," he said. He also added that drivers will be able to receive requests from both their traditional channels — stands, bases, telephone dispatch centers, or their own digital tools — as well as from Uber users. "Uber is not the enemy, it is a strategic ally. Many visitors use the app in more than 70 countries; now they can request a licensed taxi in Mexico. We learned that the future of the taxi depends on ourselves. Entering digital life is not an option, it is a necessity," he stated. You might also be interested > Taxi drivers demand legality; AICM will carry out operations and Uber demands circulation. Vázquez recalled that the arrival of digital platforms more than a decade ago caused a drop in income and the value of concessions, which led the guild to years of protests, lawsuits, and resistance, so he highlighted that the alliance preserves the regulated nature of the licensed taxi. "Taxi drivers are not part of Uber or its database. It is a digital integration that respects our independence."
