Posted on the 11th December 2025 in PHTM News
CATALAN TAXI DRIVERS GRIDLOCK BARCELONA IN MASS PROTEST AGAINST UBER AND CABIFY
Around 1,500 taxis blocked the central lanes of Barcelona's Gran Vía on Monday 8 December, in a major protest about proposed new taxi law, demanding the Catalan government speed up its approval of the new law without weakening its provisions against ride-hailing services (VTCs) such as Uber and Cabify.
The demonstration and subsequent strike, which organisers claimed had an "attendance of around 80%" across Catalonia, aims to ensure the draft legislation, which would drastically reduce VTC licences from 900 to around 300, is passed in its current strict form.
Tito Álvarez, spokesperson of the Élite Taxi union, warned that drivers "will not stop until the law that we have agreed upon with most political parties is approved."
Álvarez threatened an "indefinite strike" if the law’s approval is delayed or its provisions are diluted. The union has also filed a complaint with the Catalan Competition Authority (ACCO) against Uber and other VTC companies for "acting like a cartel."
Taxi drivers from across the region joined the protest, with Albert, president of Radio Taxi Sabadell, stating: "We've come to support Barcelona because we're at the final stages before the taxi law is passed, and we're here to put a bit of pressure."
He criticised VTC operations, noting they "change licence plates, solicit passengers on the street, which they aren’t allowed to do, they should return to the base."
Drivers highlighted the disparity in investment and regulation. Joan, a driver from Figueres, explained: "When I was 21, I bought a taxi for €120,000. Now these people come along and don’t pay anything apart from the car, and their companies don’t pay taxes here in Spain."
Joan also stressed the reliability of regulated services, recalling the 2017 Barcelona attacks: "Taxi drivers took people for free. Meanwhile, Uber and the other platforms tripled their prices, and for a €10 ride they were charging maybe €80."
Veteran Barcelona driver Oscar condemned the opposition, saying: "There is a wild, billionaire-backed form of capitalism looming on the horizon. It wants to roll over everything, push us out of here, and take our place. We will not allow it."
In response, Catalan Minister of Territory and Mobility, Sílvia Paneque, said the government intends to approve the law "as soon as possible," with effects expected in the "first half of 2026."
The ride-hailing association Unauto criticised the action, with president José Manuel Berzal claiming Barcelona was being “kidnapped by a minority" and demanding the government halt the new regulation, warning of a potential "€72 million impact" on the sector.
Meanwhile, Uber announced it would pay €1,500 to finance the insurance of each taxi driver who joins its platform until March 31, and filed a complaint against Élite Taxi for allegedly attempting to "boycott" its services during the strike.
In a statement, the company criticised Élite Taxi for preventing drivers from using the platform, which it says violates competition law.
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