CMA clears Uber and Autocab deal

The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) opened its Phase 1 merger investigation into ride-hailing company Uber’s acquisition of GPC Software Limited (Autocab) in January 2021. Autocab supplies booking and dispatch technology software (BDT) to taxi companies. It also operates a referral network for taxi and private hire operators called iGo, where those companies can send and receive jobs to each other.

The investigation considered the deal’s possible effect on competition in the supply of BDT, as well as referral networks, and any potential impact of the merger on taxi companies who are Autocab’s current BDT customers. After thorough scrutiny, the CMA has found that there is only limited indirect competition between Uber and Autocab, and the CMA did not find evidence to indicate that Autocab was likely to become a significant and more direct competitor to Uber in the future.

The CMA also considered whether Autocab and Uber could try to put Autocab’s taxi company customers that compete against Uber at a disadvantage by reducing the quality of the BDT software sold to them, or by forcing them to pass on data to Uber. However, the CMA found that there are other credible suppliers of BDT and referral networks that these taxi companies could switch to if Uber were to reduce the quality of the Autocab service or force them to share their data.

Joel Bamford, Senior Director of Mergers said:

Millions of people across the UK rely on taxis every day and technology has transformed the way this industry works. It is therefore important that mergers like these are properly scrutinised to ensure that customers aren’t negatively affected.

After a thorough investigation, the CMA has found no competition concerns as a result of this deal. This is because the companies are not close competitors, the two businesses will continue to face competition from rivals and Autocab’s customer taxi companies can switch to credible alternative providers if they wish.

Further information relating to the investigation is available on the case page.

Notes to editors

• Autocab develops and supplies two main types of software to taxi companies in connection with taxi services. This includes (i) booking and dispatch technology enabling taxi companies to connect drivers to end customers and (ii) the iGo network (iGo) which connects demand for taxi trips with taxi companies that can supply the services. Taxi companies use iGo when demand arises for services outside their own service area or when their customer demand exceeds the number of drivers they have available. Other companies, such as travel and emergency transportation companies, use iGo because they themselves do not supply taxi services but have customers who require such services.