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I wonder if they just thought that when they had enough market share, they could pressure regulators into folding? That seems so shortsighted and unlikely thoug
by M_Grey 10y ago
I wonder if they just thought that when they had enough market share, they could pressure regulators into folding? That seems so shortsighted and unlikely though, I find it hard to credit the idea. I'm not sure what the alternative explanation is though.
- uptown 10y agoI believe part of their positioning is to become beloved by regulators. Become part of the routine of the politically elite in Washington, and you're more likely to have favorable laws passed. Whether they're able to scale this to less-friendly jurisdictions is an open question.
- M_Grey 10y agoThey certainly missed the mark in China at least.
- prewett 10y agoThat was inevitable. I don't think you can be a foreign company and become "beloved by regulators" in China. (There are some good reasons for China to favor Chinese business, but it would be nice if they were honest and acknowledged that, instead of pretending like everything is fair when it's not.)
- M_Grey 10y agoAgreed on all points, but the inevitability makes the years dropping of a billion USD seem even more insane.
- stale2002 10y agoBut, they DID pressure regulators into folding. I remember a time when cities left and right were trying to get Uber shut down. When the question of "will Uber be able to continue to run in NYC" was actually up in the air. Does this even happen now, anywhere in the US or Europe? Uber won the regulation fight.
- detaro 10y agoUber stopped offering UberPOP completely in Germany, now only reselling services by licensed companies through their app as UberX. I think the same is true for the Netherlands and Spain.