ride-hailing

A ridesharing company (or ridehailing service) is a company (or service offered by a company) that, via websites and mobile apps, matches passengers with drivers of vehicles for hire that, unlike traditional taxis, cannot legally be hailed from the street. In most cases, the company sets fares, which may vary using a dynamic pricing model based on local supply and demand at the time of the booking and are quoted to the customer in advance, and receives a commission from each booking. The vehicles used in ridesharing/ridehailing service are called app-taxis or e-taxis.
Ridesharing companies were first founded in the 2010s following the proliferation of the Internet and mobile apps. In the 2020s, a few companies began offering rides in robotaxis.
The legality of ridesharing companies by jurisdiction varies; in some areas they are considered to be illegal taxi operations, while in other areas, they are subject to regulations that can include requirements for driver background checks, fares, caps on the number of drivers in an area, insurance, licensing, and minimum wage.
Studies have shown that ridesharing companies have created net jobs and improved the efficiency of drivers of vehicles for hire due to advanced algorithms that pair riders with drivers. They have been subject to criticism for seeking to classify drivers as independent contractors, enabling them to withhold worker protections that they would have been required to provide to employees. Studies have shown that especially in cities where it competes with public transport, ridesharing contributes to traffic congestion, reduces public transport use, has no substantial impact on vehicle ownership, and increases automobile dependency.
Ride-hailing services are increasingly adopting the use of autonomous vehicles. For example, on November 26 2025, WeRide, a Chinese autonomous vehicle company, has partnered with Uber to launch a fully-driverless Robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi which riders can book via the Uber app.

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