Uber launches in Puerto Rico as it shuts down in Budapest, Hungary

Uber’s pegs on the global map are dancing around again after a mixed couple days for the company. It will shut down operations in the Hungarian capital of Budapest while also launching services in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Uber opened its second Caribbean location as it moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico, following a launch in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The company had announced back in April they would be coming, but have already faced inevitable opposition from local taxi drivers. The launch occurred on July 11 with a day of free rides for users.

The Puerto Rican service actually covers most of the metropolitan area besides San Juan, including Dorado, Toa Baja, Cataño, Bayamón, Guaynabo, Trujillo Alto and Carolina. Right now, Uber Puerto Rico is only offering UberX at $0.45 per minute or $0.50 per mile at a minimum ride rate of $3.00.

In the meantime, Uber has had to react to new laws in Hungary that prompted the all-too-familiar huffing and puffing that characterizes their announcements to leave certain cities. They framed the stoppage in terms of a suspension, implying they would return the first chance they get. They used similar language in the Canadian province of Alberta when they suspended services in Calgary and Edmonton last year.

“Uber sticks to its view that banning and blocking new technologies – only because they cannot be forced into the framework of outdated regulations – is not the right way to go,” said Zoltán Fekete, operations manager at Uber in Hungary in June when the country’s parliament passed new regulations. Uber Budapest (@Uber_Bud) will wrap up on July 24.

According to the Budapest Business Journal, Uber has 1,200 drivers operating in Hungary and 160,000 users in the capital. Foreigners have ordered about 40% of rides. Based on data Geektime has gathered, Budapest has only offered the UberX service until now.

Gedalyah Reback
The shifting map for Uber’s rideshare business is a constant annoyance for the company
Uber launches in Puerto Rico as it shuts down in Budapest, Hungary