The mobility platform Bolt, one of the leading European operators of VTC and direct rival of Uber and Cabify, has initiated moves to enter the Balearic Islands and, according to what has been learned by La Voz de Ibizahas intentions to start operating in Ibiza, which has set off alarm bells in the island’s cab sector.
-
A ruling derails the plan designed by the Government to curb Uber and facilitates a flood of new licenses
-
Ibiza is put on guard: cab fears a domino effect of VTC that reinforces Uber after the latest ruling
The Estonian company’s plans are based on the current judicial context, a turning point that could facilitate its arrival on the islands, after years of administrative restrictions on this type of services.
Bolt’s possible landing is supported by the recent ruling of the High Court of Justice of the Balearic Islands (TSJIB), which obliges the Government to re-examine some 600 applications for VTC licenses denied in Mallorca during the last legislature.
Although the ruling does not directly affect Ibiza files, it does question the control model applied by the administrations, based on fixed ratios between cabs and VTC vehicles, a criterion that has also been challenged by European jurisprudence.
Bolt orients its strategy to the high season months, with the argument of responding to peaks of demand that, according to its market analysis, are not sufficiently covered by the current system. This is the same approach that led Uber to enter the Balearic Islands in 2023, a precedent that now generates concern among cab drivers in Ibiza.
The arrangements in Ibiza
According to La Voz de Ibiza, Bolt has already contacted some VTC companies to start operating in Ibiza.
However, several of them linked to the luxury VTC service have declined to this possibility, without entering into regular passenger transport.
Even, in one of the cases, they also had contacts from Cabify. “We will not go with platforms, our customers are loyal to another more luxurious service than VTC,” they said when asked by this media.
-
Ibiza, in suspense after the ruling of the 600 VTC: the cab fears for its future between Uber and thousands of licenses in the courts.
-
“It is unfair to the cab”: the Govern plants face to Uber and appeals the 600 VTC ruling.
The licenses?
Miquel Àngel Ramis, president of the employers’ association of the Balearic Transport Vehicles with Driver (VTC), said that these companies “do not have cars, they need someone who has cars. So, Uber has its car company, which is Moove Cars, which has 50 licenses from Ibiza that are operating them in Mallorca, AND those of this sentence”.
In this regard, he said that Bolt “does not have any transportation company behind it to provide support” to start operating in the islands.
“That some of these requests are from a company that is working in other communities with Bolt or Cabify, it could be. But no one has contacted us,” he said.
Continue reading:
-
The Government prepares its strategy to contain Uber after the judicial setback that forces it to re-examine 600 VTC licenses.
-
Cab and VTC in Ibiza: the controversial regulation is one step away from final approval
-
Ibiza questions that cabs and VTCs have the same regulations
-
Why was it decided to unify the regulation of cabs and VTCs?
-
Cab drivers in Mallorca fear a definitive invasion of VTCs from Ibiza
-
The Govern sets conditions to municipalities and councils to establish the new cab and VTC licenses.
-
Parliament approves extension of suspension of cab and VTC licenses in Balearic Islands
