Well here’s something I’ve never seen before (though after learning about the backstory, it makes more sense)…
In this post:
Uber’s cheapest Munich fares are UberXpensive
I’m in Munich, and this morning I opened up the Uber app, which was our first rideshare of the trip (since the city has good public transportation).
I looked at the options for the ride, and saw that the cheapest was… UberXpensive?! Indeed, Uber advertises its cheapest fare in Munich that way, with a euro symbol pointing upward, and a note about how Uber has “higher prices, mandated by the city.”
Okay, clearly Uber has some beef with local regulators, which is hardly anything new for the rideshare giant. However, there’s a certain irony and strange psychology to telling your customers that your cheapest option is expensive. And it’s especially strange when all the other options are more expensive than the “UberXpensive” fare.
What’s Uber’s beef (or Wurst) with Munich?
Obviously Uber is no stranger to regulatory battles, since there are plenty of governments that take issue with the impact that Uber has on local transportation, including the local taxi industry.
Based on reading about this online, it appears that this is an especially timely issue for Uber, as the city is on the verge of introducing a minimum fare for rideshare traffic, including Uber. A new vote is expected on this in the coming week, on July 29, 2025.
Essentially, Ubers have historically been categorized as rental cars rather than taxis. So while taxi fares have been regulated by the government, Ubers have been able to charge whatever they want, and of course this threatens the livelihood of traditional taxis.
The local government believes that growing rideshare traffic threatens public transport interests, and believes that setting minimum prices will level the playing field, and ensure things like an appropriate minimum wage.
I’m not a fan of overregulation, so I don’t generally like these kinds of restrictions that force companies to raise their prices. Affordable rideshares are important, so that people can economically hail a ride if they’ve had too much to drink, if they don’t feel comfortable taking public transportation at a certain hour of the night, etc.
At the same time, I get why this is being addressed. Taxis spend a lot of time waiting for passengers, don’t have the ability to adjust pricing based on demand, can’t reject rides, etc. So at some point, the very existence of the taxi industry is threatened. But yeah, Munich isn’t the first place where something like this has been challenged, and it won’t be the last.
Bottom line
It’s not often you open the Uber app and see the cheapest fare being called “UberXpensive,” so that caught me off guard in Munich. As it turns out, Uber is trying to create awareness around impending legislation that could change the ridesharing scene in the region.
Has anyone seen this UberXpensive branding used elsewhere?
Ben - why are affordable rideshares important, but not affordable taxis? Perhaps the argument should be one regulatory system for both, and let prices settle where they settle. Of course, you don't get SkyMiles for taking taxis, only with Uber.
"Affordable rideshares are important, so that people can economically hail a ride if they’ve had too much to drink, if they don’t feel comfortable taking public transportation at a certain hour of the night, etc."
...Ben - why are affordable rideshares important, but not affordable taxis? Perhaps the argument should be one regulatory system for both, and let prices settle where they settle. Of course, you don't get SkyMiles for taking taxis, only with Uber.
"Affordable rideshares are important, so that people can economically hail a ride if they’ve had too much to drink, if they don’t feel comfortable taking public transportation at a certain hour of the night, etc."
"Affordable [taxis] are important, so that people can economically [call] a ride if they’ve had too much to drink, if they don’t feel comfortable taking public transportation at a certain hour of the night, etc.
Just some clarity on the terminology here. Uber was/is considered a 'Mietwagen', but while that translates to 'rental' car in casual use, it actual means 'car for hire (with driver)', i.e. a prearranged ride with a driver. So the distinction is between a taxi and a hired car with driver. Taxis have more stringent rules because they can pick up and drop off anywhere and don't require a prior booking.
A rental car in...
Just some clarity on the terminology here. Uber was/is considered a 'Mietwagen', but while that translates to 'rental' car in casual use, it actual means 'car for hire (with driver)', i.e. a prearranged ride with a driver. So the distinction is between a taxi and a hired car with driver. Taxis have more stringent rules because they can pick up and drop off anywhere and don't require a prior booking.
A rental car in legal German is a 'Selbstfahrervermietfahrzeug' (self-drive rental vehicle).
The fact that a taxi is an option is one of the solutions to this which more places should adopt. If it's around the same price I think many people may choose this option depending on the city and country.
Did you also notice that UBER sponsors the stadium in Berlin.....maybe they don't mind charging more because they have to pay for the sponsorship of the city owned stadium!
Uber is not a rideshare. You are not sharing a ride with anyone (like you do on BlaBlaCar for example). It's literally a taxi app - hiring a driver to privately take you from A to B on demand is the definition of taxi service. How did they manage to sell this "rideshare" narrative in some markets is beyond me.
What way to regulate taxis is right or wrong is of course up for a...
Uber is not a rideshare. You are not sharing a ride with anyone (like you do on BlaBlaCar for example). It's literally a taxi app - hiring a driver to privately take you from A to B on demand is the definition of taxi service. How did they manage to sell this "rideshare" narrative in some markets is beyond me.
What way to regulate taxis is right or wrong is of course up for a debate. But there's no reason why Uber should be excluded from these regulations just because it's Uber.
Exactly, it's one thing to chip in towards someone's fuel costs for a pre-planned journey and quite another to hire a chauffeured car for a time and journey you specify. Anything other than full harmonisation between the rules applying to taxis and those applying to app cars is clearly in favour of virtual monopolies like Uber.
Uber is providing the same service as a taxi...why shouldn't it be regulated as a taxi? It sure as s*%t ain't a rental car.
And I can't imagine what my finance department would do with a receipt for "UberXpensive"...lol
Hypocrisy?
AR-15 is providing the same power as a military weapon...why shouldn't it be regulated as a military weapon? It sure as s*%t ain't a Nerf.
Get your confusion here - typically those fares are more expensive than UberX (not shown in your screenshot). Maybe also in that specific case UberX was higher due to surge, but typically UberXpensive will be above UberX.
For that short of a ride you should really be taking the u-bahn. Keep your florida attitude back home.
@ jennifer -- I was traveling with my (senior) dad, with suitcases, and it was raining. There was no station near where we were going...
So basically avoid u-bahn. It's full of woke people.
Yes ma'am !
What a dimwit response Jenn
I drove for Uber in college a day or two per week. It was a great way to earn cash and wouldn’t have made sense if i had to be an FTE. I have no idea why anyone would want them to change that relationship.
Just because it worked for you doesn’t mean it works for the majority.
Just because rideshares work using contractors doesn't mean it works using employees.
Sure, Jan.
Funny how taxis somehow don't also threaten public transport interests...
Let me guess... unions?
Well, the minute Uber hires its drivers as employees, pays them a living wage and benefits, and pays to maintain the vehicles, then I'll be fine with their "business model." Until then, I'm fantastically in favor of governments the world over regulating the heck out of them. Cannot imagine why _anyone_, capitalist or not, agrees with having these drivers be "independent contractors," socializing the costs and privatizing the profits.
In Germany, all riders needs to be employed by regulated third-party companies who ensure them and pay minimum wages. No self-employed uber drivers here
And what Uber don't tell you is, with either of the 4 options, you get the same car.
I tried using a Taxi in Berlin to take my mother and I roughly 1.5 km away. The cab driver refused such a short journey. I used uber and it was no problem. No interest in cabs anymore.
If you take the last cab that's waiting in line, he will be happy for the short trip. He will be making €8.50 plus tip, and will be back in line in 5 minutes. The first in line might have been waiting for an hour, so 10 bucks isn't really appealing. Of course you could have made a stink, (but who needs that?) because: 'The mandatory transport policy is a central element of the Berlin...
If you take the last cab that's waiting in line, he will be happy for the short trip. He will be making €8.50 plus tip, and will be back in line in 5 minutes. The first in line might have been waiting for an hour, so 10 bucks isn't really appealing. Of course you could have made a stink, (but who needs that?) because: 'The mandatory transport policy is a central element of the Berlin taxi industry. It obligates taxi drivers to transport passengers without discrimination or selective selection, as long as the destination is within the mandatory travel zone, unless there are legitimate reasons for refusal'.